If we ask what is meant by the term all communication, we find that overall there is a common understanding of its meaning, at the most confused with information, but if we ask what ethic means, particularly when applied to the field of healthcare, there is greater difficulty in finding a common definition. Most people would relate it with the testing of drugs, others to various ethics, penal, or internal codes, some just turn up their nose, but ethics, is far from being an application of standards and rules to determine what is bad and what is good, what is right against what is not right, what is morally irreproachable against what questionable; it is a discipline that thinks the future looking back in the past. It is undeniable, however, that at present there is a breakdown of ethics. Rules have been superseded by other rules: constitutional, scientific, economic and often relegated to areas extrinsic to everyday life, no longer conforming social action to professional ethics. But the use of ethics to divide human behavior in what is “in” and what is “out” is quite restrictive; it should rather serve as a guide in decision making about what is appropriate to do at time “x”, what is not (but it could be at time “y”), and also in what and how to communicate its related outcome. Obviously, ethics, as a discipline, lacks the rigor of a science is not objective or measurable by an experiment, and, at the most, can be evaluated in its intent. It is the discipline of the “perhaps if…”, of daily doubt of our individual and group values. Any choice, even to give or not give way, responds to a strict code of values based on ethical grounds. Any choice takes into account the values of the community in which they are made and helps to strengthen the ethics of that community that will permeate all the subsequent behavior. It is in this perspective that communication is an ethical act, even more so when tied to the field of healthcare and wellness.
In times of economic crisis, the choices are increasingly based on an intrinsic code of ethics, and communicate a decision, particularly if unpopular, becomes ethically crucial. It is easy to say: the truth at all costs, but what is the real truth? Mine or the listener’s? The one of the messenger or the receiver? Solution of this dilemma should always include reference to a code of values, because communication is in itself based on the relationship with a code of values. It is true that sharing places the subject away from any strict liability, and that this could also provide an excuse for irresponsibility, but this can be avoided if those who communicate not only consider the problems related to the contents but also assess what happens in the path to the receiver. Etymology of communicate shares the same root of community. Communication is a technique ("how to"), but is primarily a value (its effect): this is what makes it ethical. Sharing is the logical consequence of this act, but communication has only some aspects of self-evaluation; mostly its “value” is the result of co-action of several people who contribute to its effectiveness and share responsibility. The words we choose often result from the same code of ethics and values. For example, in responding to the needs of a patient one can say to be empathetic (e.g. sorrowful), or accurate (e.g. precise), but it is undeniable that being both simultaneously responds to a higher ethical sense! This is the aim of that branch of economics known as “economic ethics”, which is the application of these criteria to the conduct of those involved in healthcare organizations. Because demand for healthcare and wellness is progressively increasing, the offer must be constantly calibrated in relation to the availability of a competitive healthcare market economic, it is therefore necessary to establish principles and methods of implementation of procedures, that give choices an ethical connotation. Principles of human dignity, need and solidarity alone, are not a sufficient condition for prioritization of contingent resources: principles of fair distribution must also be associated.
This is an excerpt from my log book of my mission at the Tiziano Terzani hospital,
Emergency, Lashkar Gah, Afghanistan (December 2007 - June 2008).
Sunday, January 27, 2008
"..... But what does it mean to be a member of Emergency? And who in hell knows ... only one month to reply...
But that's why you write, to write down in the memory emotions, events, objectives, and take a snapshot...read
If we ask what is meant by the term all communication, we find that overall there is a common understanding of its meaning, at the most confused with information, but if we ask what ethic means, particularly when applied to the field of healthcare, there is greater difficulty in finding a common definition. Most people would relate it with the testing of drugs, others to various ethics, penal, or...read
Nearly 12 million Italians are likely to spend a “sleepless” night with consequent impact on quality of life and physical and psycho-physiological functions.
Insomnia is nothing but an experience of inadequate or poor quality sleep, which can manifest as difficulty of falling asleep or staying asleep, and can be occasional or chronic, if it lasts more than a month.
It is important that...read
Percutaneous dilatational tracheostomy (PDT) is the gold standard for patients hospitalized in intensive care who require long periods of mechanical ventilation. Several PDT techniques proposed over the years are based on the original Ciaglia description (1-3).
An innovative technique of PDT, the Ciaglia Blue Dolphin ™, has been available for several months. It combines the expansive action...read
The loss of ovarian activity and of production of estrogen during menopause is responsible for different clinical manifestations, some immediate, others long term, causing not only the appearance of the typical climacteric symptoms, such as hot flushes, night sweats, changes in mood, vaginal atrophy and dyspareunia, but also a modification of glyco-insulin, lipid and bone metabolism, and an...read
If we ask what is meant by the term all communication, we find that overall there is a common understanding of its meaning, at the most confused with information, but if we ask what ethic means, particularly when applied to the field of healthcare, there is greater difficulty in finding a common definition. Most people would relate it with the testing of drugs, others to various ethics, penal, or internal codes, some just turn up their nose, but ethics, is far from being an application of standards and rules to determine what is bad and what is good, what is right against what is not right, what is morally irreproachable against what questionable; it is a discipline that thinks the future looking back in the past. It is undeniable, however, that at present there is a breakdown of ethics. Rules have been superseded by other rules: constitutional, scientific, economic and often relegated to areas extrinsic to everyday life, no longer conforming social action to professional ethics. But the use of ethics to divide human behavior in what is “in” and what is “out” is quite restrictive; it should rather serve as a guide in decision making about what is appropriate to do at time “x”, what is not (but it could be at time “y”), and also in what and how to communicate its related outcome. Obviously, ethics, as a discipline, lacks the rigor of a science is not objective or measurable by an experiment, and, at the most, can be evaluated in its intent. It is the discipline of the “perhaps if…”, of daily doubt of our individual and group values. Any choice, even to give or not give way, responds to a strict code of values based on ethical grounds. Any choice takes into account the values of the community in which they are made and helps to strengthen the ethics of that community that will permeate all the subsequent behavior. It is in this perspective that communication is an ethical act, even more so when tied to the field of healthcare and wellness. 
This is an excerpt from my log book of my mission at the Tiziano Terzani hospital,
Emergency, Lashkar Gah, Afghanistan (December 2007 - June 2008).
Sunday, January 27, 2008
"..... But what does it mean to be a member of Emergency? And who in hell knows ... only one month to reply...
But that's why you write, to write down in the memory emotions, events, objectives, and take a snapshot...
Nearly 12 million Italians are likely to spend a “sleepless” night with consequent impact on quality of life and physical and psycho-physiological functions.
Insomnia is nothing but an experience of inadequate or poor quality sleep, which can manifest as difficulty of falling asleep or staying asleep, and can be occasional or chronic, if it lasts more than a month.
It is important that...
Percutaneous dilatational tracheostomy (PDT) is the gold standard for patients hospitalized in intensive care who require long periods of mechanical ventilation. Several PDT techniques proposed over the years are based on the original Ciaglia description (1-3).
An innovative technique of PDT, the Ciaglia Blue Dolphin ™, has been available for several months. It combines the expansive action...
The loss of ovarian activity and of production of estrogen during menopause is responsible for different clinical manifestations, some immediate, others long term, causing not only the appearance of the typical climacteric symptoms, such as hot flushes, night sweats, changes in mood, vaginal atrophy and dyspareunia, but also a modification of glyco-insulin, lipid and bone metabolism, and an...
