19AH015 - Ethics for Occupational Therapy Practitioners: Pondering Relational Autonomy

Description

This 1.5-hour course will examine the principle of autonomy (AOTA Code of Ethics Principle #3, AOTA, 2015) from the perspective of relational ethical theory. Participants will explore whether the conception of autonomy and the autonomous agent at its core are compatible with embeddedness of how we understand ourselves, the relational nature of our motivations, and the overall social character of our being (Christman, 2004). Examples from clinical decision-making with children, people with cognitive differences, and people with mental health issues will be used to consider how practitioners can partner with clients and families to achieve client-centered care and honor the interdependence and mutual support in which these client groups operate.

Target Audience

Occupational Therapists and Assistants

Objectives

• Critically evaluate the AOTA Code of Ethics principle of autonomy
• Analyze the similarities and differences between individual autonomy and relational autonomy
• Explore the implications of relational autonomy for conceptualizing the "client" and client-centered care
• Apply a relational autonomy approach to case examples in which the client's capacity for decision-making is limited

Faculty

• Lauren L. Holahan, PhD, OTR/L, FAOTA