Ethics and Audiology W. J. B A B E R 2 0 1 5
Ethics and Audiology Disclaimer: I have never been financially associated with a hearing instrument company. Acknowledgment: Ethics for Health Care by Catherine Berglund, Oxford University Press
What is Ethics? A reflective process of analysing and examining moral issues and problems Bioethics: applied in the health care context and life sciences Medical Ethics: specific term in a medical and biomedical context
Ethical standards Aim for the optimal standard of practice Moral framework Aim higher than the basic minimum of social requirements
Moral framework A moral framework allows identification of a virtuous, right or acceptable course of conduct
The Reflective process This includes the questions: Why do people come to be involved in health care? What resources are available to help their aims? How does the process of care unfold?
Ethics in Health care Three factors are involved: Individual ethics and values Group ethics and values Professional ethics and values
What is a Profession -1? Defined by exclusivity, requiring an academic degree and the legal right to practice via a licence. Professional autonomy comes by virtue of specialised knowledge
What is a Profession -2? An occupation that involves: The development of skills A high level of training There are expectations of a high standard of proficiency A code of ethics of ideals of service to society that becomes an integral part of professional activities
Definitions Goals: what you aspire to Duties: what you are obliged to do Obligations and prohibitions must be proscribed
4 Principles of Health Care Beneficence the obligation to do good Non-maleficence first do no harm Autonomy allowing clients to make decisions about their own lives Justice fair distribution of reserves, especially if limited
Intrinsic Factors Professional behaviour not just a sales pitch Treating clients fairly and honestly Maintaining a high standard of presentation Dress Approach to clients Office presentation
Extrinsic factors Relationship to suppliers Relationship to manufacturers Relationship to government agencies In Audiology: DHB s ACC Education department Veteran affairs Social welfare
Food for thought! The ethics of weakness vs the ethics of power Barry A Freeman: Ethics in Audiology from Audiology online
Who is a professional carer? Firstly, it can be a difficult decision to make The decision is not always made straight from school What made you decide to train in your health care profession?
Qualities required An academic level eg Masters or Doctorate Ability to work collaboratively in a team Ability to reflect on difficult problems Making a virtue out of wanting to care Wanting to serve Go beyond self needs to meet other s needs
Fundamentally The ideal health carer has skills and beliefs that go beyond the rather narrowly defined technical ability to do the work.
Basic stuff Every health care worker is a unique individual Before starting training At work Outside of work You cannot help but bring much of yourself to work, so any talk of ethics must also include the sort of person you are
Ideals of a profession These can be defined by the members of that profession: They bring their own ethics This influences the ethics of the profession Members working together for the common good
However! Audiology is unique in that unlike physiotherapy, optometry, dentistry it is not a registered health profession in either Australia or New Zealand
Why ethics in Audiology? It is essential, to be able to operate in a legal, fiscal and commercially responsible way
Who are the stakeholders? Clients Family of your clients Suppliers Manufacturers Technology partners Employees
Ethical Leadership There are four components: Purpose Choice Responsibility and trust growth
Purpose This involves establishing the guidelines that all adhere to whilst allowing independent decisions on management to be made within those guidelines
Choice Choice involves considering what is best for that particular person or situation rather than what might be best for yourself or your practice
Responsibility and Trust These are intertwined, compliment each other and are surprisingly obvious to clients most of the time but not always, which is why the first two principles are important
Growth Part of the development of skills and learning New technology Extending knowledge and skill base Acquiring insight into your limitations and what that means for your clients
Ethics is dynamic Times change People change Medical problems and health issues change Social contexts change
Audiology in NZ Has an effective society with a well-defined code of ethics The society lobbies government on issues of importance CPD is an essential part of membership Recognition as a health care profession should be promoted
Summary Why become an audiologist? Use your individual personalities to further the practice of audiology Respect your clients always Rewards in health care professions go far beyond simple financial considerations