Ethics and childbirth educators: do your values cause you ethical distress?
The Code of Ethics for Lamaze Certified Childbirth Educators outlines the ethical principles and standards that are derived from childbirth education's core values to assure quality and ethical practice. This article presents a summary of the history of ethics and medical ethics that informs a value-oriented decision-making process in childbirth education. The role of evidence in ethics is explored from the childbirth educator's viewpoint, and scenarios are used to reflect on situations that are examples of ethical distress. The conclusion is that the practice of ethics and ethical decision making includes regular reflection.
MICHELE ONDECK is a clinical education specialist and director of the Lamaze Childbirth Educator Program with Magee-Women's Hospital of University of Pittsburgh Medical Center.
Michele
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Ondeck