Project topics and materials
Get Complete Project Material File(s) Now! »
PROFESSIONAL ETHICS
Kushner (2001) asserts that the perception of self rests on two basic, universal human needs, namely the perception of self firstly as a good person and secondly as successful and important. Every human being possesses both good and bad tendencies and since society does not always celebrate virtuous behaviour, these two basic needs are often in conflict with each other. The attempt to satisfy the two needs can lead to inconsistency between how individuals want to act (intent) and their actual behaviour. This same conflict is seen in the therapeutic sciences. The challenge is to find a balance between the goal to succeed in business and the desire to maximise the well-being of clients by providing them with effective products and services.
Society trusts therapists to provide expert services and commit themselves to acting in the best interest of their clients. Those therapists who consistently act in ways consistent with their stated high ethical standards are described as having integrity and are more likely to be trusted by their clients (Pera, 2011). To maintain public trust is essential for the future of the therapeutic sciences (occupational therapy, physiotherapy, speech-language therapy and audiology). A strong sense of ethical responsibility is required to develop this fiduciary relationship with clients and therapists’ behaviour must adhere to the ethical principles and rules that they have publicly agreed to follow.
There are many factors that affect ethical behaviour. One such factor is an intensified specialisation of knowledge. Growing specialist expertise tends to rely on evidencebased knowledge and results in more professionals, including those in the therapeutic sciences, defining themselves by their marketable knowledge and skills (Grimen, 2009). While expert knowledge is useful in order to solve specified problems or undertake distinct tasks, it could be at the expense of ethical responsibilities if professionals do not look beyond the immediate consequences of their actions (Johnson, 1972). Another factor that influences ethical behaviour is a heightened emphasis on accountability and the importance thereof in the age of client autonomy, empowerment and protection of their rights. Cost-effective, safe, timely and socially responsible are the watchwords of accountable, outcomes-based
twenty-first century service delivery.
Chapter 1 Orientation
1.1 INTRODUCTION
1.2 PROBLEM STATEMENT AND BACKGROUND .
1.3 DEFINITION OF TERMS
1.4 ABBREVIATIONS
1.5 CHAPTER OUTLINES
1.6 SUMMARY
Chapter 2 Literature Review
2.1 INTRODUCTION
2.2 PROFESSIONAL ETHICS
2.3 ETHICS IN THE THERAPEUTIC SCIENCES
2.4 ETHICAL DECISION MAKING
2.5 ETHICAL SENSITIVITY
2.6 ETHICS TRAINING FOR PROFESSIONALS
2.7 MEASURING ETHICAL SENSITIVITY
2.8 NEED FOR AN ETHICAL SENSITIVITY TEST FOR THE THERAPEUTIC SCIENCES
2.9 CONCLUSION
Chapter 3 Research Methodology Phase 1: Sampling and development
3.1 INTRODUCTION
3.2 MAIN AIM
3.3 SUB-AIMS
3.4 PHILOSOPHICAL UNDERPINNING OF THE RESEARCH
3.5 ETHICAL CONSIDERATIONS .
3.6 RESEARCH DESIGN .
3.7 PHASE 1: SAMPLING AND DEVELOPMENT
Chapter 4 Research Methodology Phase 2: Implementation and Evaluation
4.1 INTRODUCTION
4.2 MAIN AIM
4.3 SUB-AIMS
4.4 RESEARCH DESIGN .
4.5 FINAL DEVELOPMENT PHASE FOR MIEST
4.6 MAIN STUDY
4.7 SUMMARY
Chapter 5 Results .
Chapter 6 Discussion of results
Chapter 7 Summary, conclusions and recommendations
