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From: Tamar Jacobson
Date: 10/8/02
Time: 5:25:57 AM
Remote Name: 24.51.25.232
This is a very important subject. The ASHA ethical principles are very general indeed. "Good intentions" is the scariest notion, in my view. Parents beat their children to this day with the best of intentions in mind - to teach them right from wrong and prepare them for the tough world out there! I observe teachers and clinicians who have the best interests of the children in their care. I believe they mean it when they say that. And yet, their strategies and interventions are sometimes humiliating and rigorous in ways that make me wonder what they know about the concept of "compassion." The question would be, can ethical practices be defined in more detail and would that help? Everyone's "intentions" are based on a worldview that we developed from significant adults in our lives since our childhood. Clinicians, teachers, therapists should all be under supervision regarding just that - "where do those intentions - that worldview - come from? and why? and does it bear relevance today, here and now?" Who, ultimately, holds us accountable/responsible for the way we interact with people in our care? Great article! SUCH an important topic. Thank you, Judy!