title: Reasonable partiality in professional relationships.
abstract: First, two aspects of the partiality issue are identified: (1) Is it right/reasonable for professionals to favour their clients' interests over either those of other individuals or those of society in general? (2) Are special non-universalisable obligations attached to certain professional roles? Second, some comments are made on the notions of partiality and reasonableness. On partiality, the assumption that only two positions are possible--a detached universalism or a partialist egoism--is challenged and it is suggested that partiality, e.g. to family members, lies between these two positions, being neither a form of egoism, nor of impersonal detachment. On reasonableness, it is pointed out that 'reasonable' is an ambiguous concept, eliding the notions of the 'morally right' and the 'rational.' Third, a series of practical examples are taken from counselling, medicine, law, education and religious practice and some common principles are abstracted from the cases and discussed. These include truth-telling, confidentiality, conflicts of interest between clients and particular others and between clients and society. It is concluded that while partiality can be justified as a useful tool in standard cases, particular circumstances can affect the final verdict.
authors.affiliation: University of Hull, Hull Hu6 7RX, UK. B.M.Almond@hull.ac.uk
authors.forename: Brenda
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Almond
mesh_terms: D000163:Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome; D026688:Bioethical Issues; D003219:Confidentiality / Q000941:ethics; D016265:Conflict of Interest; D003617:Dangerous Behavior; D017007:Duty to Warn / Q000941:ethics; D004995:Ethics, Professional; D006801:Humans; D007398:Interpersonal Relations; D010684:Philosophy; D024382:Professional Role; D011369:Professional-Patient Relations / Q000941:ethics*; D012941:Social Responsibility; D014342:Truth Disclosure / Q000941:ethics