Ethical Basics For The Caring Professions

This book trains students of the caring professions, across health and social care, in the basic philosophical skills and knowledge needed to deal with the ethical aspects of their profession. It shows why ethical education is required, and teaches the skills of reasoning that equip professionals to think critically about the theories and arguments used in ethical discussions. It demonstrates how we can be confident that we can rely on common moral ground; but it also points out how we need to recognise the influence of different world-views, and to note how, on some issues, these can lead us in starkly different directions. It explains relevant philosophical theories, and evaluates their strengths and weaknesses – particularly in relation to what is required for proper professional ethics. It shows how to employ the commonly accepted framework of four ethical principles – beneficence, non-maleficence, autonomy, and justice. These various matters are then illustrated in two extended case studies, which focus on the problem of euthanasia, and the question of screening for disability and the value of human life. Ethical Basics for the Caring Professions is designed for use on all health and social care and human services courses on ethics and values. It will also be of interest to academics and professionals working within these fields.

Ethics are central to the caring professions. The very idea of a profession stakes a claim on the ethical basis of knowledge and skills. In this book Richard Hugman examines new approaches in ethics and applies these to the practices and organisation of the caring professions. Hugman addresses debates about the relationship between the individual person and social structures, about pluralism and the possibility of universal values, about the challenges created by industrial society and technology, and about the changing social mandate for the caring professions. These debates are considered from the perspectives of liberalism, feminism, ecology, postmodernism and constructivism. Ideas are explained and the implications for professional ethics are explored using illustrative examples from practice to show their relevance for the caring professions. This book will be essential reading for members of caring professions (especially allied health, medicine, nursing, psychology, social work and teaching) and students entering these professions.

If you are looking for an accessible introduction to the essential concepts that define the field of professional ethics, then this is the book for you. Richard Hugman's A-Z of Professional Ethics offers a winning combination of breadth and concision, expertly organised to make usage intuitive and easy. Its simple A-Z structure will help you appreciate the architecture of ethics and give you a vocabulary for ethical debate. Clever cross-referencing allows you to find your own routes through the material as well as signposting interesting connections between different ideas. Unique to this book are its sensitivity to cross-cultural influences and its careful integration of different professional perspectives. These give it outstanding balance and coverage. A rich source of further references, it offers readers an invaluable guide to an increasingly extensive literature. Whatever your field of study or practice (social work, health care, or therapy), this book will prove an enduring source of clarity, insight and reflection.

First published in 1980, Caring and Curing is for all those involved in the ‘caring professions’ – medicine, social work, and the other health and welfare occupations. It is both an introduction to philosophy for the caring professions and a philosophy of those professions. The authors believe that the best way to introduce philosophy is to engage in it, to philosophize, and that the most exciting way to philosophize is to offer a reasoned but controversial point of view on matters to which people are professionally committed. They argue, first, that there is an essential unity of the caring professions in that the concepts of health and welfare are different aspects of a single value judgement as to what sort of life a person should be enabled to live in his society. Secondly, they show the limits of scientific expertise in relation to human behaviour and argue that the education of medical and social workers should include broader humane disciplines to assist them in coping with the problems of ethics and values of all kinds in present-day society. Thus, the discussion introduces the main branches of philosophy and deals with many of the current moral dilemmas in medicine and social work.

Professional knowledge doesn't guarantee you'll make the right decisions when it comes to professional ethics Ethics in Social Work introduces students, practitioners, and educators to theoretical and conceptual approaches to professional ethics and to the practice-related aspects of dealing with ethical problems and dilemmas. This unique book equips social workers with the ability to choose among different perspectives on the place and value of ethics in their approach to clients, and to use, defend, and explain their choices to clients, colleagues, supervisors, administrators, the general public, and the courts, if necessary. The book examines classical ethics, theories, and codes of ethics, virtues and values, etiquette, professional responsibilities, distributive justice, judiciary relationships, professional misconduct, and malpractice. A working knowledge of ethics is essential for the development of a healthy and happy relationship between service providers and consumers. Ethics in Social Work looks at how ethical issues and conflicts can affect the daily lives of social work practitioners and how an increased sensitivity to those issues can help enrich their professional experience. The book addresses the basic concepts relating to ethics, as well as theories, principles, rules and values that guide service provision based on the National Association of Social Workers Code of Ethics and Standards for Cultural Competence in social work practice. Ethics in Social Work examines: * the leading theories of ethics, including deontology and teleology * compromising or choosing between opposing values * professional etiquette in advertising and counseling * moral and professional responsibilities * the ethical dilemmas of telling the truth * social justice * practice-related aspects of distributive justice * fiduciary relationships * confidentiality in therapeutic work * resolving ethical dilemmas * the Hippocratic Oath and its relevance to social work * the Code of Ethics in social work * real-life cases of malpractice * and much more Ethics in Social Work includes case illustrations from existing literature and from professional experience, as well as an up-to-date bibliography. It is an essential read for anyone working, or preparing to work, in the helping professions.

With coverage of both legal and ethical issues, this text gives you the foundation to handle common health care challenges in everyday practice. Legal and Ethical Issues for Health Professions, 4th Edition includes practice cases specifically developed for key allied health programs along with enhanced pedagogical content. Additionally, it features a variety of exercises to help reinforce content from the book, as well as updated coverage of medical records, privacy, patient consent and abuse, the impact of interprofessional team work, and key industry trends. Detailed coverage of current legal and ethical issues and case law help facilitate interesting and relevant discussions. What If? boxes present ethical dilemmas and help you apply concepts from the book to real-life examples. Specialty practice cases provide practical application for specialties (Medical Assisting, MIBC, Pharm Tech, etc.) and help you relate your experience with practice. Increased coverage of the impact of interprofessional teamwork demonstrates the impact ethics have on health care work. NEW! Two all new chapters covering Medical Records and Key Trends in Healthcare. NEW! Enhanced coverage of patient consent and abuse outlines what students need to know about what’s right and wrong when working with patients. NEW! Updated case studies discuss the issues faced in a variety of healthcare settings.

This practice-based textbook explores the ethical, legal and professional issues that characterise the field of healthcare. From seeking consent to upholding patient confidentiality, it examines a broad range of professional dilemmas from everyday practice. Detailed scenarios and engaging discussions help the reader understand how best to balance ethics, the law and professional codes of conduct in order to provide the best standards of care. Whether studying on an undergraduate nursing, midwifery or healthcare related programme or an experienced practitioner, this is essential resource for people working in healthcare looking to develop an ethically, legally and professionally sound approach to practice.

Rev. ed. of: Professional nursing / Kay Kittrell Chitty, Beth Perry Black. 6th ed. c2011.