Culture and Ethics in Ghanaian Professional Life
CULTURE AND ETHICS IN GHANAIAN PROFESSIONAL LIFE
Cultural elements invariably affect the delivery of professional services in whatsoever form. Professional practices are strongly guided by appropriate code of ethics. Sound ethical decision making is based on a process that involves multiple steps some of which are taken in advance and some of which are taken at the time ethical dilemma presents itself (Carter, Bennett, Jones & Naggy, 1999). The development and the application of ethical principles and standard in professional lives are strongly influenced by cultural elements.
BREIF HISTORICAL PERSPECTIVES ON WESTERN ETHICAL CODES
The influence of culture on ethical professional practice could be traced back to the time of the development of some selected code of ethics. Professional codes in the West typically follow the Hippocratic tradition (Veatch, 19997) which is often acknowledged by both physicians and lay people as the foundation of medical ethics for physicians in the west. Among the Christian cultures, a new version of the Hippocratic oath called the oath According to Hippocrates insofar as a Christian may swear it (Jones, 1924), emerged for Christian physicians with some changes to reflect the culture of the Christian Kingdom. These includes removal of references to the Greek gods and goddesses, the dropping of the prohibition against surgery whilst strengthening the prohibition on abortion (Veatch, 19997). Similarly, the Percival’s medical ethics which become the foundation of modern Anglo-American professional physicians’ ethics also show some variation with the Hippocratic Oath. The religious virtue of purity and holiness of the Hippocratic Oath are replaced with virtues of gentleman: Physicians should “unite tenderness with steadiness and condescension with authority” (Percival, 1927).
ETHICS AND PROFESSIONAL LIFE IN GHANA
Culture could be described as the integrated pattern of human behavior that includes thoughts, speech, customs,
Cultural elements invariably affect the delivery of professional services in whatsoever form. Professional practices are strongly guided by appropriate code of ethics. Sound ethical decision making is based on a process that involves multiple steps some of which are taken in advance and some of which are taken at the time ethical dilemma presents itself (Carter, Bennett, Jones & Naggy, 1999). The development and the application of ethical principles and standard in professional lives are strongly influenced by cultural elements.
BREIF HISTORICAL PERSPECTIVES ON WESTERN ETHICAL CODES
The influence of culture on ethical professional practice could be traced back to the time of the development of some selected code of ethics. Professional codes in the West typically follow the Hippocratic tradition (Veatch, 19997) which is often acknowledged by both physicians and lay people as the foundation of medical ethics for physicians in the west. Among the Christian cultures, a new version of the Hippocratic oath called the oath According to Hippocrates insofar as a Christian may swear it (Jones, 1924), emerged for Christian physicians with some changes to reflect the culture of the Christian Kingdom. These includes removal of references to the Greek gods and goddesses, the dropping of the prohibition against surgery whilst strengthening the prohibition on abortion (Veatch, 19997). Similarly, the Percival’s medical ethics which become the foundation of modern Anglo-American professional physicians’ ethics also show some variation with the Hippocratic Oath. The religious virtue of purity and holiness of the Hippocratic Oath are replaced with virtues of gentleman: Physicians should “unite tenderness with steadiness and condescension with authority” (Percival, 1927).
ETHICS AND PROFESSIONAL LIFE IN GHANA
Culture could be described as the integrated pattern of human behavior that includes thoughts, speech, customs,
References: Canter.B. Mathilda., Bennett.E. Bruce, Jones. E. Stanley, & Nagy.F. Thomas (1999). Ethics for Psychologists: A commentary on the APA Ethics Code. USA: American Psychological Association. Jones,W.H.S. (1924). The Doctor’s oath: An Essay in the History of Medicine. Cambridge: Cambridge university press. Lystead R.A, (1958) The Asante: A proud people. New Jersey, Rutgers Percival .T. (1927). Percival’s Medical Ethics. Baltimore: Williams & Wilkins. Timothy.J. Trull & Jerry.E. Phares (2001). Clinical psychology: Concepts. Methods and Profession (Sixth Edition). USA. Wadsworth. Twumasi P.A. (Edited, 2005). Medical systems in Ghana. Ghana. Ghana Publishing Corporation. Veatch.M. Robert (2005). Medical Ethics. (second edition). USA. Jones and Bartlett Publishers.