What interprofessional teamwork taught me about an ethics of care

Abstract

Grounded in a deep professional identity of physical therapy, most therapists become involved in interprofessional teamwork. The author, a physical therapist cum interprofessional team practitioner and health care ethicist, highlights how ethical challenges in interprofessional teamwork settings produce insights and responses consistent with incorporating an ethics of care approach to everyone’s benefit. This approach takes seriously the high human stakes present in professional encounters. It honors patients’ and others’ stories for their ethical content, relies on uncovering the moral significance of a relationship to find meaning in the encounter, and acknowledges the influence of institutional arrangements on outcomes. Facing a team error and being faced with a patient’s personal suffering are two examples of teamwork situations that offer opportunities for how to enhance a team’s caring response to patients and each other. Each type of situation brings out the professionals’ vulnerability and need to acknowledge uncertainty while not losing sight of the ultimate goal of good patient care. Each also demonstrates the need for and efficacy of team members to be caring of each other.

Keywords:

• Physical therapy
• Interprofessional
• Teams
• Ethics
• Care