Engagement In Relational Ethics

Relational ethics focuses on relationship between the people who are involved in the ethical issue (Moore, Engel, & Prentice, 2014, p. 32). It is the important and central aspect of health care ethics as many people are involved in an ethical situation (Burkhardt et al., 2014b, p. 41). In relational ethics, decisions or ethical actions are taken by emphasizing the importance of relationship. The central themes of the relational ethics are Mutual respect, engagement, embodiment, and environment (Pollard, 2015, p. 364). Mutual respect is the most important concept in relational ethics. It is the interactive and reciprocal process of understanding the values and beliefs of each other (Moore et al., 2014, p. 32). Mutual respect helps to mitigate the power differentials between nurse and patient (Pollard, 2015, p. 365). Engagement in relational ethics allows nurses and patients to be authentically present, and are connected with one another in the ethical space (Wright, Brajtman, & Bitzas, 2009, p. 224). Engagement is essential to create the mutual …show more content…
34). The utilitarian theory on the other hand, focuses on the consequence or the end result of an action. The theory is based on the theme of maximising overall good (Burkhardt et al., 2014b, p. 30). Both of the traditional ethical theories, focus on the abstract approach to solve complex ethical issues which have goal to identify the rationale of the problem, and ensure justice to the people. However, in relational ethics, the focus is on the relationship between the people involved in the ethical issues (Burkhardt et al., 2014b, p. 41). Relational ethics is not the opposite of the traditional ethical theories, but a more inclusive way of problem solving with the emphasis on the importance of the