Exploring interdisciplinary perspectives: Social care and medical students’ views surrounding the covert administration of medicines

Abstract

Ethics and the manner in which individuals approach and resolve ethical dilemmas in daily practice continues to be a source of particular interest for the caring professions (Noddings, 2010; Hugman, Pittaway & Bartolomei, 2011; Lachman, 2012; Teixeira, Riberio, Fonseca & Carvalho, 2013). While traditional approaches to ethics education frequently revolve around the teaching of ethical theories and concepts, whether this approach produces ethical professionals has been questioned (Satterwhite, Satterwhite & Enarson, 2000; Campbell, Chin & Voo, 2007; Johnston & Haughton, 2007; Silverman et al., 2013). In part, such controversies can be attributed to the complex interplay of personal, social and cultural values that individuals bring to decision-making. More importantly perhaps, how an individual approaches and resolves ethical dilemmas will be shaped by professional discourses, practices and cultures.