| Learning Objectives: Class Three There are several "universal" or fundamental concepts that form the underpinnings of health care ethics. Many of the principles and rules of ASHA's Code of Ethics are based upon these concepts. As you will see, these concepts have been handed down and have evolved over long periods of time. We'll move next into seeing how ASHA has integrated these (and other) concepts into the code of ethics for the profession of speech-language pathology. ASHA's Code of Ethics is intended to educate and guide professional practice. It is important to integrate the principles of ethics into your thinking now, at this early stage of your professional practice. We try to model good, ethical professional practice at our Clinic. It's been interesting how many students come back from their externship placements seeing some "less than ethical" practices at their sites! Vocabulary commonly encountered in studying ethics is presented to acquaint you with issues, concepts, and common terminology. You should be able to identify a variety of ethical perspectives upon which ethical decision-making will later be evaluated. Ethics is as much a way of thinking about what you are doing as it is a way of behaving. © Rentschler, 2008 |