Ethical Decision Making in Therapy Practice

The author aims to provide therapists with a theoretical framework that allows them to analyse critically the real ethical conflicts arising in therapy and those covered by the text. The author points out that there is no right or wrong answer to ethical desicion making.

This is a good introduction to ethical decision making and may be of interest to other health care professionals. It is stimulating and clearly not for those who are looking for a recipe approach to this subject. Nursing Ethics, November 2000
book is clearly relevant to physiotherapy and to physiotherapists and would serve as an approachable and useful introduction, to the main ethical issues and arguments currently occurring in practice. Physiotherapy
writing style of the author is engaging and easily accessible, a major triumph for a topic which is often considered overly academic. This is a stimulating and readable book, of which I am sorry not to be the author. it will be in demand by the majority of therapists. British Journal of Occupational Therapy, October 1998
book is the first in the UK to address ethical issues in the therapy professions. It is aimed at practising therapists and students and is both readable and stimulating. The focus of the book is on the ethics of clinical practice and it does not attempt to address the equally important ethical issues around research and therapy. The book covers a range of subjects in chapters on: Introduction to ethics; Ethical decision making; Truthfulness; Informed consent; Confidentiality; Death and dying; Resource allocation, and Codes of ethics and in less depth Advocacy; Suicide; Care of older people, and HIV infection. Each chapter has a summary that serves as a reminder of the key points in the chapter.

The first chapter, Introduction to ethics, is refreshingly simple, with a very clear explanation of the subject, in particular in its description of ethics and why this is an important issue for therapists to address. The author is not afraid to tackle difficult concepts such as the relationship between morality and ethics and law and ethics.

The book continues to hold the attention and provoke interesting discussion, for example in the chapter on Death and dying. The author states that this may not impinge significantly on professional practice in the therapies . However, it is important that therapists have a knowledge and interest in other areas of health care that impact on their colleagues in the multi professional team.

The issues surrounding resource allocation appeared to give the author the reader the most difficulty and there was a strong feeling of underlying anxiety and anger. He points out that therapists can ensure that resource allocation decisions are made appropriately. He cites three main considerations for resource allocation: efficiency, effectiveness and equity (the three Es). He makes an excellent attempt to clarify this issue and provides the reader with both a taster on the subject and a sound base from which to enlarge on this particular area.

The author shows no bias towards any one therapy and the contents are as relevant for a physiotherapist, as for a speech and language therapist or for an occupational therapist, which is an indication of the quality of the writing and the content.

While being both readable and stimulating the book also contains some clear definitions which would be useful to the practising therapist. It provides an excellent starting point for therapists and for the multi professional team considering these complex issues. As the author points out in the book it is important for all those in the business of health care to understand ethical issues beyond the confines of their own professional activities .

The book should be included in the recommended reading list of multi professional undergraduate training courses as well as available for all practising therapists. Julius Sims has addressed complex subjects with clarity and given therapists a useful tool. This book is long overdue and should encourage greater discussion amongst therapists. Lynch Mason, DIPCOT SROT, Occupational Therapist, Journal of Medical Ethics, May 1999
book provides an introduction to the main ethical concepts and dilemmas to be found in the practice of the various therapies associated with health care. Though it is not specifically addressed to physiotherapy, since it encompasses occupational therapy and speech and language therapy as well, it would prove of interest and use to students of physiotherapy, particularly as many of the examples and illustrations are drawn from that field.

In the clear and convincing preface and introduction Professor Sim makes a persuasive case for the essential nature of the ethical base underlying the therapeutic professions, and distinguishes the concerns and dilemmas characteristic of therapeutic practice both from the kinds of dramatic issues often covered by the media and those typically canvassed in texts dealing with more narrowly defined medical ethics, both illuminating and accounting for their characteristic nature.

The introduction is followed by a chapter headed Ethical decision making which seeks to provide the broad theoretical base for the more applied discussion of particular concepts and issues which follows...

The chapters following this examine particular areas of ethical concern under the headings: Truthfulness, Informed consent, Confidentiality, Death and dying, Resource allocation and Codes of ethicss . The discussion throughout is clear and focuses effectively on the dilemmas which occur in practice and the role and responsibilities of the therapist in dealing with them. The main points of argument are discussed and, as throughout the text, are aptly and usefully illustrated by relevant and convincing case studies and examples. A number of crucial points are made about the difficulties and pitfalls of practice in the context of ethical decision making in a modern health care setting.

The final chapter deals with... advocacy, suicide, care of older people, and HIV infection which are discussed accessibly and clearly, with reference to the material covered in earlier sections.

The book is clearly relevant to physiotherapy and to physiotherapists and would serve as an approachable and useful introduction, particularly for students, to the main ethical issues and arguments currently occuring in practice. Physiotherapy, vol 84, no 7, July 1998
book is highly recommended for all readers and is essential reading for those in our profession who care enough to be leaders, especially those reviewing and developing the various codes of ethics which attend our professionals association at State and Federal level.

Best Books for 1999 section, Chiropractic Journal of Australia, Volume 29, Number 4, December 1999