Defining the topic of ethics is a complex task, as are the issues faced in an ethical dilemma. Ethics is often called “moral philosophy,” which seeks answers to moral questions such as what is justified and virtuous. Other definitions of ethics include metaethics, which examines the “nature of morality” itself and what we mean by specific moral terms, such as “good and bad.” Normative ethics is about what we should do (Banks, 2006. pp. 4-5). This essay will discuss what happened versus what other professionals thought should happen in work involving Sofia, a 15-year-old woman with an incurable heart. condition. The main issue was the insistence by human services professionals that Sofia be informed of her life expectancy against her parents' wishes. This work will discuss how and why decisions were made to hide the truth from Sofia and the impact these had on Sofia's life satisfaction and enjoyment. From this position, the concept of virtue ethics will be explored in the context of working to further Sofia's needs and desires. Conversely, alternative concepts of ethics, such as the Kantian and utilitarian approaches, will be considered in light of the clear power imbalances that existed between Sofia's parents, my practice against Sofia. Thompson (2006) argues that social work can lead to “potential empowerment or potential oppression” because at the core of its foundations lie “elements of care and control” (p. 14). However, I will argue that power imbalances in this case did not necessarily equate to Sofia's loss of power. With all due respect to the time element and ethical dilemma, the exploration of empowerment will be discussed in the context of the real-time opportunities provided for Sofia's enjoyment. Sofia has undergone numerous surgeries and visits a hospice four times a year. The medical profession has made it clear to her parents that Sofia's time is limited, although so far she has defied medical opinion and survived many more years than expected. When she is tired she often uses oxygen and a wheelchair. Her physical development has been hindered by her condition and as such she is very small for her age.