connecting with, replicating the emotions that the artist wanted to portray. Applying this theory to
Valerie’s case, being able to relate to her issues and understanding her experiences will gain trust.
For instance, understanding the root cause of her problems (mental health) and her low self-esteem
(bullying).
Max Scheler
Max Scheler, German philosopher, suggest that instead of being simplistic and giving plain facts
when expressing their emotions towards a piece of art. We should learn to elaborate and express
our raw opinion e.g., if its majestic or horrifying. We must not just state the facts of our service
users, we should understand how they feel and how we feel about them. For Aisha, elaborating the
situation about her dementia and asking her how she feels about her condition will give us a better
understanding of how she is dealing with it. Instead of being giving plain and simple facts which she
may not understand.
Martin Hoffman
Martin Hoffman, an American psychologist who studies the significance of social and emotional
development e.g. empathy and the way it moulds the way we think and how we advance morally.
Such as knowing right from wrong and knowing how to respect peers. We can only empathise with a
patient if we know what right from wrong is. When something is done incorrectly, we can imagine
how that affects the service user and we can learn from that. If Aisha reacts aggressively to a specific
treatment, her health care professionals will learn from her behaviour not to use that treatment
again.
LAB
The next topic I will be exploring is the importance of examining ethical issues and principles when
providing care and supporting service users to meet their individual needs.
Ethical issues and approaches
Being ethical when working in a health and social setting means following the correct policies and
procedures, doing the correct thing, and carrying out moral actions. An ethical decision could include
turning off a patient’s life support despite their family’s lack of approval.
Theories of ethical work
Deontology (German Philosopher Immanuel Kant) – This theory explains the importance of
rules when distinguishing between what’s right and wrong. Kant believed that people in
society must follow universal rules and carry out their duties when making decisions as this
helps to determine what’s ethical. Deontology can be explained in Valerie B’s case study
while although she may feel discriminated against at home by bullies, in every health care
service, professionals are required to promote equality for every patient, rules and laws
which are universal. Ethics in Health and Social Care - Why Are Ethics Essential for
Healthcare Providers? (ukcbc.ac.uk) .
Consequentialism (Jeremy Bentham et al) – This ethical theory analyses how choices are
made through weighing up the consequences of the actions made. For example, Valerie B. Is
afraid to go home due to her to the bullying she suffers from however if it means she can
gain back some independence then sending her home might be the right thing to do.
Although this could help health care professionals to decipher what’s best for their patient,
