Ethics Code

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The Ethics Code is intended to support us in differentiating between suitable and deplorable behavior in regards to all individuals. When working with adolescents and children, the guidelines become a little more ambiguous. Adolescents require consent from a legal guardian in most cases to seek treatment, but confidentiality permits some information discussed from being released to the parent that requested the treatment. When working with youth the primary focus can include not only the ethical decision, but the legal and moral decisions, as well.

In the article Vocal Cord Operation on a Constantly Screaming Autistic Teen there is reference made to Standard 3.10, informed consent. This article talks about a child named Kade who is a 16 year old, autistic boy that undergoes a surgical procedure to remove his capability to scream. The decision was made between Kade’s parents and Dr. Seth Dailey, a surgeon at the University of Wisconsin Hospital. The procedure, called a thyroplasty, consist of spreading the vocal cords apart and implanting a mesh shim to keep them from touching throughout a contraction. The outcome is a greater gap between the vocal cords, resulting in a weaker ability to speak. The ethical issue that is being addressed is whether or not Kade was able or allowed to give consent for this operation. The author, Arthur Caplan, believes strongly that there was not an ethical issue involved because the child had parental consent, the operation is reversible, and the outcome of the procedure benefits all of the parties involved.

I personally feet that the weakness of this paper lay with the wording of the article. It seemed to focus more on the benefits to the parents then it did to the child. W...

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Caplan, A. (2013). Vocal cord operation on constantly screaming autistic teen. Retrieved from http://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/813194_2

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