As healthcare professionals we are held to a high standard
of practice. Our clients are in a vulnerable position because
they come to us with emotional, mental, spiritual and physical
problems. A prominent bioethicist, Dr. Edmund Pellegrino states,
"the moral essence of a health
profession is the special relationship that sickness and the
response to the illness creates between healer and patient"
(1997). This relationship creates a responsibility called
a "fiduciary relationship." A fiduciary relationship
is one based on trust, especially public trust. We are expected
to meet certain standards of behavior and competency because
of this relationship. That is why all healthcare professionals
have a code of ethics to which they are held accountable and
why we must be involved in ethics training.
This Online Course series will provide information to assist
in the understanding and application of ethical principles
and codes. There is general information on ethics and legal
issues but the application of the material is specific to
substance abuse prevention and counseling professionals. Course
One covers the ethical decision making process and the ethical
principles of autonomy, beneficence, competence, discretion,
justice and non-maleficence. Course Two discusses dual relationships,
cultural competency, clinical supervision, training and consulting.
Course Three (in development) addresses the unique issues
for those professionals working in criminal justice systems
or with criminal justice clients. It builds on the material
offered in the first two courses but also offers participants
an opportunity to consider their professional roles and how
the client/counselor relationship changes when working with
criminal justice systems. Course Four (in development) offers
specific application of ethical principles for prevention
professionals. Case discussions in each course allow students
to apply the course materials and to practice ethical-decision
making.
