Commitment to health: a shared ethical bond between professions.

Abstract

It is commonly assumed that Codes of Ethics are supported by concrete ethical principles, that adherence to Codes of Ethics guarantees ethical behaviour and that there is widespread agreement about ethical standards. Each of these assumptions is false. Codes of Ethics are inevitably open to wide interpretation, and it is impossible to demonstrate absolute moral standards. Health and social care workers should not adhere to unexplained 'ethical principles' insufficient to guide practical decision making. Anyone who recognises that all human actions potentially have ethical content may choose to make an ethical commitment. In order to work for health, health workers ought to commit to a substantial theory of health. One such theory--the foundations theory of health--is briefly explained and illustrated. The foundations theory can form a shared ethical bond between health and social care professionals, since both professions regularly strive to achieve foundational health for their patients and clients.