Unit 3: Ethics and Ethical Behavior

Question 1

Basic Definition: Principle of Beneficence

Answer 1

Beneficence is the moral obligation to act in a way that will benefit or help others.

Question 2

Beneficence in Clinical Practice:

Answer 2

In clinical practice it is providing interventions that will help patients. This goes a step beyond not doing harm to a patient. It ensures that you are actively attempting to help them.

Question 3

Beneficence in Research:

Answer 3

In research this means that you are doing things that promote participants’ welfare and safety. It also includes protecting participants from exploitation and keeping the participants’ interests as a priority. You minimize risks to participants while maximizing benefits.

Question 4

Basic Definition: Principle of Nonmaleficence

Answer 4

Nonmaleficence is the moral obligation to protect from harm, specifically physical or mental danger. This principle also indicates that you should not expose people to unnecessary risk.

Question 5

Nonmaleficence in Clinical Practice:

Answer 5

In clinical practice this means not intentionally harming a patient or client, but it also entails not causing unintentional harm through carelessness. Although therapy might, at times, require that you expose people to some risk so that they can progress towards their goals, you must be particularly cautious and use your clinical judgement to minimize the risks.

Question 6

Nonmaleficence in Research:

Answer 6

In research this focuses on ensuring that what is being done is not harming the participants or putting them at unnecessary risk. This means you are also making sure that harm is not done by omitting care or treatment.

Question 7

Basic Definition: Principle of Utility

Answer 7

Utility is the moral principle that actions and behaviors are right if they promote happiness and pleasure. Utility also means that actions are wrong if they promote unhappiness or pain. Another way to think of this is to consider usefulness of the action or behavior to achieve happiness. This principle is often thought of in terms of what action brings about the greatest good for the greatest number of people.

Question 8

Utility in Clinical Practice:

Answer 8

Think of this principle from the utilitarian point of view. Think of what gives the most benefit while causing the least harm. In clinical practice you can look at this principle by considering how you prioritize what interventions you might use. Think about what’s most cost effective for your patients that gives the most benefit. Think about who needs immediate treatment vs. who will be harmed least by delaying services?

Question 9

Utility in Research:

Answer 9

In research consider utility when prioritizing a research agenda or when making decisions on allocation of funds. Look at utility as a type of cost-benefit analysis. What actions will give society the most benefit with the least risk? When considering utility, you need to also look at what are the most pressing problems for the largest number of people.

Question 10

Basic Definition: Principle of Autonomy

Answer 10

The moral obligation to respect that a person can make their own decisions about what they can and agree to do. We must respect the decisions people make regarding their own lives. This is often referred to as ‘human dignity’.

Question 11

Autonomy in Clinical Practice:

Answer 11

This means respecting and acknowledging patients’ decisions regarding therapy, even if their wishes or decisions oppose our own. Autonomy DOES allow for educating your client or patient, but it DOES NOT allow you to make decisions for them. When you violate the principle of autonomy in the best interest of the other person, even though it is not what they want, this is known as paternalism.

Question 12

Autonomy in Research:

Answer 12

In research the principle of autonomy is often addressed as informed consent. The participant has a right to know and to be given adequate information so that they can make an informed and calculated decision about the benefits and the risks of participation. The participants must freely agree to take part in research. There are four essential components to autonomy in research.

Question 13

Informed consent MUST include: (Principle of Autonomy)

Answer 13

• Disclosure of details of study
• Participant must demonstrate comprehension of the details of the study
• Participant must freely want to participate without coercion
• Participants must have the ability, knowledge, or skill to understand and participate in the first 3 areas of consent. If participants are too young or mentally or emotionally incompetent, then consent must be sought from a legally empowered party on their behalf.

Question 14

Altruism involves demonstrating concern for the welfare of others (Principle of Beneficence) This quote can be found in the code of ethics for which of the following professionals:

Answer 14

Occupational Therapist

Question 15

Evaluate the strength of evidence and applicability of content presented during professional development activities before integrating the content or techniques into practice (Principle of Beneficence) This quote can be found in the code of ethics for which of the following professionals:

Answer 15

Physical Therapist

Question 16

Terminate services in collaboration with the service recipient or responsible party when the services are no longer beneficial (Principle of Beneficence) This quote can be found in the code of ethics for which of the following professionals:

Answer 16

Occupational Therapist

Question 17

Refrain from threatening, coercing, or deceiving clients to promote compliance with therapy recommendations (Principle of Beneficence) This quote can be found in the code of ethics for which of the following professionals:

Answer 17

Occupational Therapist

Question 18

Provide services with compassionate and caring behaviors that incorporate the individual and cultural differences of patients and clients (Principle of Beneficence) This quote can be found in the code of ethics for which of the following professionals:

Answer 18

Physical Therapist

Question 19

Individual shall use every resource including referral and/or inter professional collaboration when appropriate to enswurethe quality service is provided (Principle of Beneficence) This quote can be found in the code of ethics for which of the following professionals:

Answer 19

Speech-Language Patholoogist

Question 20

Misrepresentation- Any statement by words or other conduct that, under the circumstances, amounts to an assertion that is false or erroneous (not in accordance with the facts) any statement made without conscious ignorance or a reckless disregard for the truth (Principle of Beneficence) This quote can be found in the code of ethics for which of the following professionals:

Answer 20

Speech-Language Pathologist

Question 21

Act in a respectful manner toward each person regardless of age, gender, race, nationality, religion, ethnicity, social, or economic status, sexual orientation, health condition, or disability (Principle of Beneficence) This quote can be found in the code of ethics for which of the following professionals:

Answer 21

Physical Therapy

Question 22

Individuals shall honor their responsibility to hold paramount the welfare of persons they serve professionally or who are participants in research and scholarly activities (Principle of Beneficence) This quote can be found in the code of ethics for which of the following professionals:

Answer 22

Speech-Language Pathology