IT is extremely prevalent in our society today. Paper files have become obselete in many industries - offices, libraries, doctors surgeries - doctors now have the ability to enter client/patient information directly onto a database and receive nurses notes and patient test results the same way. In households people receive bank statements, power & phone invoices and many others electronically rather than a paper copy in the post. People store family photos digitally on computers and print selected ones for an album, rather than having prints of all photos taken. In fact in Hamilton, it is becoming difficult to find somewhere that will actually develop film.
Personally I feel proficient using Microsoft Word, Excel, Powerpoint and similar packages. I struggle with anything to do with setting up a computer and loading appropriate software. However, I have managed to install printers with software and am battling on learning about blogspot and digital photography and uploading of photos.
During my fieldwork placement in 2009, I was surprised at the lack of IT within the area of Occupational Therapy. I have previously worked in office situations where there was a computer on every desk. The office my supervising OT was located in did not have a computer, although 5 therapists occupied the space. There was one computer situated in a room down the corridor, which serviced about 8 users. There was also very little evidence on IT on the ward, with all client/patient files being manual and handwritten.
The main ethical implications arising from capturing, sharing and transferring information via IT devices is the possibililty of exploitation. Mobile phones are banned from some swimming pool complexes and it is possible they will be banned from playgrounds, to protect the possibility of child pornography. Capturing, sharing & transferring information without a person's consent is also an invasion of a person's privacy. Information can be falsely represented or images can be altered and misrepresented.
Computer Ethics is a branch of practical philosophy which deals with how computing professionals should make decisions regarding professional and social conduct. Computer ethics have been integrated into professional development programs since the 1990's. Information ethics is a field which investigates ethical issues arising from the development and application of information technology. It provides a critical framework for considering moral issues concerning informational privacy, moral agency, new environment issues and the life cycle of information. Wikipedia. (2010). Computer Ethics. Retrieved April 19, 2010. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/computer_ethics
Intellectual Property is a term referring to distinct types of legal monopolies over creations of mind - artistic and commercial and corresponding fields of law. Owners are granted exclusive rights to various intangible assets; music, literacy, artistic work, discoveries & inventions, words, phrases, symbols & designs. Common types of intellectual property are copyrights, trademarks, patents, industrial design rights & trade secrets. Wikipedia. (2010). Intellectual Property. Retrieved April 19, 2010. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Intellectual_property
Social Justice is a concept of justice on a social scale. Can be described as a movement towards a "socially just world". Social justice is based on human rights and equality and involves economic egalitarianism via progressive taxation, income or property redistribution. Policies are aimed at achieving equal opportunities or outcomes than may currently exist in societies or class structures. Wikipedia. (2010). Social Justice. Retrieved April 19, 2010. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Social_justice
Informed Consent is a legal phrase indicating the consent a person gives meets a certain minimum standard. Informed consent can be given based on clear appreciation and understanding of facts, implications and consequences of certain actions. To be able to give informed consent an individual must have adequate reasoning faculties and possess all relevant facts at the time consent is given. Parents, guardians, caregivers or those with Power of Attorney may give consent on behalf of an individual who is impaired and unable to give consent themselves. Under the Hippocratic oath, Doctors will give necessary life saving treatment if a person is unconscious or severly injured. Serious ethical issues arise if an individual is not provided sufficient information to form a reasond decision. Wikipedia. (2010). Informed Consent. Retrieved April 19, 2010. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Informed_consent
As practicing Occupational Therapists it is very important to have an understanding of Information Technology and ethical issues to enable provision of professional and holistic assistance. It is our responsibility to respect an individual's privacy with regard to personal information and the sharing of that information among other practitioners and via electronic systems. We are also responsible for ensuring an individual is provided with all relevant information to make an informed decision regarding their own health care. We must work with integrity ensuring justice is achieved for all individuals. I feel these issues can not be overstated in our role of an Occupational Therapist.
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