What is the ethical duty to intervene when a supervisor or partner uses excessive force?

• A. Do nothing
• B. Document after incident
• C. Intervene to stop the excess force if safe, and report through proper channels to ensure accountability
• D. Publicly condemn the supervisor

Answer: (C)

The main idea here is the obligation to prevent harm and uphold professional standards by taking action when you witness excessive force. The best approach is to intervene to stop the excessive force if you can do so safely, and then report through the proper channels to ensure accountability and create an accurate record. This two-step response both reduces immediate harm and ensures there is a formal process to address the behavior and deter future incidents. Documenting after the incident is important, but it doesn’t stop the harm in the moment and may miss crucial details of what happened. Publicly condemning the supervisor may be principled, but it bypasses established procedures and can undermine due process and accountability. If you ever witness excessive force, act to de-escalate or separate the parties if it’s safe, seek assistance, and then follow the proper reporting paths to protect people and maintain professional integrity.