Question

These are the five ethical principles from the Unified Code of Ethics for Health Education listed below 1Value of life 21Goodness (including nonmaleficence and beneficence) 3Uustice 4Truth telling 5Individual freedom Choose either the worksite or community health setting and explain a way to apply three of the principles listed above

Answer 1

Health Education professionals are dedicated to excellence in the practice of promoting individual, family, organizational, and community health. Guided by common values, health educators are responsible for upholding the integrity and ethics of the profession as they face daily challenges of decision making.

By acknowledging the value of diversity in society and embracing a cross-cultural approach, health educators support the worth, dignity, potential, and uniqueness of all people.The code of ethics provides a framework of shared values within which health professionals works.

Now here taking example of client having HIV I am explaining 3 principles truth telling, justice and individual freedom.

First principle truth telling: truth telling is about telling the truth to someone who has right to know the truth. For example, if as a health professional you have been informed about the result of an HIV test taken for client in your community who then asks to know his/her result, you should tell the person the truth even though this might be very upsetting to that person. The principle of truth telling urges the professional not to lie.

Second principle justice: Justice is a complex ethical principle and it entails fairness, equality and impartiality; in other words, it is the obligation to be fair to all people. The concept of justice will become clearer we understand the meaning of two categories of justice: distributive justice and social justice.

Distributive justice means that individuals have the right to be treated equally regardless of ethnic group, gender, culture, age, marital status, medical diagnosis, social standing, economic level, political or religious beliefs, or any other individual characteristics. Everyone should be treated in the same way.

Social justice is based on the applicable of equitable rights to access and participation in all aspects of goods and services provided in a society, regardless of their individual characteristics.

Now for same HIV positive client if as a health care professional we came to know about his/her being expel from job because of his/her condition (medical diagnosis). Then it will be injustice for client. we as a health professional should explain client about all means including legal to fight back for justice.

Third principle individual freedom:  The term individual freedom also called autonomy refers to every individual’s right of self-determination, independence and freedom to make their own choices. In the context of healthcare, the concept of autonomy is most concerned with the ethical obligation of the practitioner to respect their clients’ right to make decisions about their own health. Autonomy must be respected even if you, as the healthcare provider, do not agree with the client’s decision.

For example after diagnosing with HIV if client make choice to keep his/her decision confidential then we should respect his/her decision and act according.