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Ethical grey zones in primary care: Practical decision-making beyond right and wrong

Zeynep PEKEL, Alperen KÜÇÜKUYSAL, Aleyna UÇAR, Buğra BALCAN, Ilksen Yazgülü ŞENOL, Sümeyra DELIKKAYA, Ece AKÇAY, Duygu AYHAN BAŞER, Gökçe İŞCAN and Vildan MEVSIM

Ethical decision-making in primary care often occurs in “grey zones” where clinical guidelines offer limited guidance and competing values must be balanced. Family physicians routinely face ethical dilemmas embedded in everyday consultations, such as responding to non-medical requests for reports or prescriptions, managing repeated somatic complaints driven by psychosocial distress, or balancing patient autonomy with professional responsibility in relationships. These situations are rarely dramatic, yet they significantly influence clinical quality, professional integrity, and patient trust. Such dilemmas are highly context-dependent and shaped by cultural norms, healthcare systems, and the continuity of doctor–patient relationships. In international settings like WONCA, similar ethical challenges may be interpreted and managed differently. This workshop creates a structured, reflective space for participants to explore how ethical reasoning operates in real-life primary care encounters across diverse contexts.By the end of the workshop, participants will be able to: 1.Identify common, everyday ethical dilemmas specific to primary care practice. 2.Analyse these dilemmas using core ethical principles (autonomy, beneficence, non-maleficence, justice). 3.Reflect on and compare different culturally and system-informed approaches to managing ethical uncertainty in primary care.The workshop uses interactive, case-based learning  primary care scenarios. Participants will work in small, facilitated groups to discuss anonymised cases reflecting ethical grey zones, including non-medical requests, psychosocially driven presentations, and tensions between relational continuity and professional boundaries. Guided questions will support structured ethical reflection, followed by plenary discussion to synthesise insights and highlight transferable strategies. Workshop schedule (60 minutes) Introduction (5 min) – Ethical dilemmas in primary care and workshop structure Small-group case discussions (35 min) – Structured ethical analysis Plenary synthesis (15 min) – Integration of ethical principles and cross-context learning Wrap-up (5 min) – Key take-home messagesParticipants will gain practical frameworks for ethical reflection, increased confidence in navigating uncertainty, and transferable insights applicable to daily primary care practice.By focusing on everyday ethical grey zones, this workshop strengthens family physicians’ ethical reasoning in routine practice. Through case-based discussion and international peer exchange, participants gain practical strategies to manage uncertainty, set professional boundaries, and maintain patient trust, supporting ethically grounded and person-centred primary care across diverse contexts.