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Ethics, Dementia and Severe Communication Problems

Received: Oct. 29, 2015    Accepted: Jan. 03, 2016    Published: May 13, 2016
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Abstract

Emmanuel Levinas [1] argued that ethics cannot be regarded as a set of principles, rules or norms, but rather that the fundamental basis of ethics is communication and negotiated decision-making. This article explores the conditions necessary for ethical behavior to occur, as explored by Murray [2], by focusing on two relevant issues: firstly the ability of the individual to announce themselves, i. e. their ability to open up or share of themselves, and secondly, their ability to represent themselves in issues surrounding decision-making. These two issues will be explored by referring to people with severe dementia and those who have severe communication problems. The paper includes the voice of the individual as well as the voice of those who interact with individuals with severe communication problems.

DOI 10.11648/j.hss.s.2016040201.16
Published in Humanities and Social Sciences ( Volume 4, Issue 2-1, April 2016 )

This article belongs to the Special Issue Ethical Sensitivity: A Multidisciplinary Approach

Page(s) 37-40
Creative Commons

This is an Open Access article, distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted use, distribution and reproduction in any medium or format, provided the original work is properly cited.

Copyright

Copyright © The Author(s), 2024. Published by Science Publishing Group

Keywords

Ethics, Dementia, Severe Communication Problems

References
[1] Levinas, E. (1950). Ethics and infinity: translated by Richard A. Cohen. Pittsburgh, PA: Duquesne University Press.
[2] Murray, J. (2003). Face to Face in Dialogue: Emmanuel Levinas and the Communication of Ethics. Maryland: University Press of America.
[3] Johannesen, R; Valde, K & Whedbee, K. (2008). Ethics in Human Communication. Long Grove: Waveland Press.
[4] Tavani, H. (2004). Ethics and Technology. Hoboken: John Wiley.
[5] Verde, M. (2011) June, 16. Communication and ethics interpolations (Electronic mailing message) Retrieved from www.iu.exchange.edu.
[6] Kitwood, T. (1997). Dementia reconsidered: The person comes first. Buckingham, England Philadelphia: Open University Press.
[7] Gullette, M M. (2011, May 21). Our Irrational Fear of Forgetting. New York Times. Retrieved from http://www.nytimes.com/2011/05/22/opinion/22gullette.html?_r=1&scp=1&sq="May%202.
[8] Tonsing, K; Alant, E & Lloyd, L. L (2005). Augmentative and Alternative Communication. In Alant, E & Lloyd, L. L (Eds). Augmentative and Alternative Communication: Beyond Poverty. London: Whurr Publishers., pp30-67.
[9] ASHA Technical Report: Facilitated Communication (1994). Retrieved from http://www.asha.org/policy/TR1994-00139.htm#sec1.2, October, 20 2015.
[10] Boyton, J. (2012). Facilitated Communication- What harm it can do: Confessions of a Former Facilitator. Evidence-Based Communication Assessment and Intervention, 6(1), 3-13. http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/17489539.2012.674680
[11] ISAAC, 2014. Position Statement on Facilitated Communication. Augmentative and Alternative Communication, 30 (4), 357-8. Doi: 10.3109/07434618.2014.971492.
[12] Engber, D. (2015, October, 22). The Strange Case of Anna Stubblefield. The New York Times, http://www.nytimes.com/2015/10/25/magazine/the-strange-case-of-anna-stubblefield.html?emc=eta1&_r=0, retrieved on October, 23 2015.
[13] Scott, R. 1998. Professional Ethics: A Guide for Rehabilitation Professionals. Toronto: Mosby.
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  • APA Style

    Erna Alant. (2016). Ethics, Dementia and Severe Communication Problems. Humanities and Social Sciences, 4(2-1), 37-40. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.hss.s.2016040201.16

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    ACS Style

    Erna Alant. Ethics, Dementia and Severe Communication Problems. Humanit. Soc. Sci. 2016, 4(2-1), 37-40. doi: 10.11648/j.hss.s.2016040201.16

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    AMA Style

    Erna Alant. Ethics, Dementia and Severe Communication Problems. Humanit Soc Sci. 2016;4(2-1):37-40. doi: 10.11648/j.hss.s.2016040201.16

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  • @article{10.11648/j.hss.s.2016040201.16,
      author = {Erna Alant},
      title = {Ethics, Dementia and Severe Communication Problems},
      journal = {Humanities and Social Sciences},
      volume = {4},
      number = {2-1},
      pages = {37-40},
      doi = {10.11648/j.hss.s.2016040201.16},
      url = {https://doi.org/10.11648/j.hss.s.2016040201.16},
      eprint = {https://download.sciencepg.com/pdf/10.11648.j.hss.s.2016040201.16},
      abstract = {Emmanuel Levinas [1] argued that ethics cannot be regarded as a set of principles, rules or norms, but rather that the fundamental basis of ethics is communication and negotiated decision-making. This article explores the conditions necessary for ethical behavior to occur, as explored by Murray [2], by focusing on two relevant issues: firstly the ability of the individual to announce themselves, i. e. their ability to open up or share of themselves, and secondly, their ability to represent themselves in issues surrounding decision-making. These two issues will be explored by referring to people with severe dementia and those who have severe communication problems. The paper includes the voice of the individual as well as the voice of those who interact with individuals with severe communication problems.},
     year = {2016}
    }
    

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Author Information
  • Department of Curriculum & Instruction, Indiana University, Bloomington, USA; Center for AAC, University of Pretoria, Pretoria, South Africa

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