Page 540 - alligood 8th edition_Neat

CHAPTER 26 Gladys L. Husted and James H. Husted 521

Veterans Affairs. G. Husted served as curriculum con- professionals and patients. The name of the theory is
sultant for several schools of nursing. In addition, she derived from the Greek word symphonia, which means
has presented at many national-level conferences. “agreement.”
James Husted was born in Kingston, Pennsylvania, Ethics is “a system of standards to motivate, deter-
and has had a lifelong interest in philosophy. While in mine, and justify actions directed to the pursuit of
the army in Germany, he became interested in ethics vital and fundamental goals” (Husted & Husted, 2008,
through conversations with a former ethics professor, p. 8). Ethics examines what ought to be done, within
particularly the work of Benedict Spinoza. the realm of what can be done, to preserve and en-
J. Husted’s post-Army career focused on sales and hance human life. The Husteds, therefore, described
on hiring and training agents for health insurance ethics as the science of living well.
companies. However, he continued to read and de- Bioethics is concerned with the ethics of interac-
velop his philosophical and ethical ideas. During the tions between a patient and a health care professional,
1980s, he joined the high-IQ societies, Mensa and what ought to be done to preserve and enhance hu-
Intertel, serving as a philosophy expert for Mensa and man life within the health care arena. Within the past
a regional director for Intertel. century, the expanding knowledge base and growth of
The theorists met and were married in 1974, estab- technology altered existing health care practice and
lishing and cultivating a dialogue that brought about created threatening and confusing circumstances not
the theory of Symphonology. They are coauthors of previously encountered. Increasing numbers and
several editions of Ethical Decision Making in Nursing. types of treatment options allowed patients to survive
Their book was selected as one of Nursing and Health conditions they would not have in the past. However,
Care’s Notable Books of 1991, 1995, and 2001. It also the morbidity of the survivors brought new questions:
won the Nursing Society Award in 2001. Their regular Who should receive treatment? What is the appropri-
column, “A Practice Based Bioethic,” appeared in Ad- ateness of treatments under particular circumstances?
vanced Practice Nursing Quarterly from 1997 to 1998. Who should decide what treatments are appropriate?
In addition to publishing books, book chapters, and In this way, bioethics became a central issue in what
journal articles, they have presented their ethical the- previously had been a prescriptive environment. It
ory at conferences and workshops. became essential to consider ethical concerns, as well
The Husteds reside in Pittsburgh and continue to as scientific solutions, to questions of health (Jecker,
develop and disseminate their work through teaching, Jonsen, & Pearlman, 1997). Through personal experi-
writing, presenting at conferences and workshops, and ence and observation of nurses, the Husteds recog-
serving as consultants for ethics committees. nized the increasingly complex nature of bioethical
dilemmas and the failure of the health care system to
adequately address the problem.
Theoretical Sources To clarify the reasons for the deficiency of the
The authors define Symphonology as “the study of health care system in addressing the issue of deliver-
agreements and the elements necessary to forming ing ethical care, the Husteds examined traditional
agreements,” (Husted & Husted, 2008, p. xv). In ideas and concepts used to guide ethical behavior.
health care, it is the study of agreements between These ideas include deontology, utilitarianism, emo-
health care professionals and patients. An agreement tivism, and social relativism. Deontology is a duty-
is based on the nature of the relationship between the based ethic in which the consequences of one’s
parties involved. In its ethical dimensions, it outlines actions are irrelevant. One acts in accordance with
the commitments and obligations of each. Although preset standards regardless of the outcome. The inap-
the theory developed from the observation of nurses propriateness of this type of guideline is obvious in
and nursing practice, it later expanded to include all relation to health care professionals, because they are
health care professionals. The development of this responsible for foreseeing the effects of their actions
theory has led to the construction of a practice-based and acting only in ways that benefit a patient. Utilitar-
decision-making model that assists in determining ian thought would have health care professionals act-
when and what actions are appropriate for health care ing to bring about the greatest good for the greatest