Values and philosophy Flashcards
Why does your profession need to hold values and have a foundational philosophy?
Professional values guide reasoning and inform ethical decisions (Purtilo & Doherty, 2011)
The OTA Code of Ethics describes appropriate conduct for occupational therapists in any professional circumstance and serves as a guide for practitioners in the following broad domains: relationships with, and responsibilities to patients and clients; professional integrity; professional relationships; and responsibilities and standards.
A profession needs a philosophy that is sufficiently general to accommodate contextual variations and changes as ideas, research, practice and experience demand (Wilcock, 2000).
Is the philosophy of occupational therapy what you expected?
Yes it is what I expected
1. “Humans have an innate need for occupation and wellbeing”
2. “Humans are unique, with unique capacities to realise their potential, to grow and self-actualise.
3. “Humans are complex, multileveled systems who act on and interact with their environments”
‘Ever changing occupational humans, interconnected with ever changing environments occupy time with ever changing occupations and thereby transform and are transformed by their actions, environments and states of health’ (Hooper & Wood, 2014).
4. “All Humans have a right to occupations”
Do you foresee any challenges in maintaining the professional philosophy?
I don’t foresee and challenges in maintaining the current professional philosophy however I believe that in time through advancement/ research in the field. These philosophies might broaden or new ones may need to be added.
Do you think some of the professional values will remain constant?
Yes I believe that all the professional values mentioned by the Australian Governments Department of Health 2013 will stay a constant such as Respect, Advocacy, working in partnership, excellence, respect, compassion, caring, empathetic, ethical, professional, responsible, positive, encouraging, hopeful, open minded, self aware, culturally aware and collaboration.
How might the professions values and philosophy change in the future?
They might change to cater more medical niches which aren’t discovered yet. As medical advancements are made in the health sector we are constantly figuring out new and improved ways to help people. With new practices come new responsibilities on the part of the health practitioner which must be upheld to achieve the best possible therapeutic relationships between the health practitioner and the client.
