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CHAPTER 26 Gladys L. Husted and James H. Husted 523

MAJOR CONCEPTS & DEFINITIONS—cont’d
needs and desires of the patient are central. The well-being through their interaction (Fedorka &
professional’s commitment is defined in terms of the Husted, 2004).
patient’s needs. Without this agreement, there would
be no context for interaction between the two; the Person-Patient
relationship would be unintelligible to both (Husted A person is an individual with a unique character
& Husted, 1999). structure, possessing the right to pursue vital goals
as he chooses (Husted & Husted, 2001). These char-
Health acteristics are unique to an individual and also may
Health is a concept applicable to every potential of a be shared by others (Husted & Husted, 2008). Vital
person’s life. Health involves not only thriving of the goals are related to survival and the enhancement of
physical body, but also happiness. Happiness is real- life. A person takes on the role of patient when he
ized as individuals pursue and progress toward the has a loss or a decrease in agency resulting in an in-
goals of their chosen life plan (Husted & Husted, ability to take the actions required for survival or
2001). Health is evident when individuals experi- happiness (Husted & Husted, 1998).
ence, express, and engage in the fundamental bio-
ethical standards. Rights
The product of an implicit agreement among rational
Nursing beings, by virtue of their rationality, not to obtain ac-
A nurse acts as the agent of the patient, doing for her tions or the product of actions from others except
patient what he would do for himself if he were able through voluntary consent, objectively gained (Husted
(Husted & Husted, 2008). The nurse’s ethical re- & Husted, 2001). The term rights is a singular term that
sponsibility is to encourage and strengthen those represents the critical agreement of nonaggression
qualities in the patient that serve life, health, and among rational people (Husted & Husted, 1997b).

Use of Empirical Evidence Beginning in 1990, Duquesne University offered a
Study and dialogue between the two theorists, coupled course devoted to this bioethical theory. The authors
with experience of the overall evolution of health care continued to seek critique and examples about their
and observation of individual nurse-patient relation- work from students, practitioners, and other experts.
ships, provided the impetus to develop Symphonology The third edition of the book, Ethical Decision Making
Theory. G. Husted’s dissertation focused on the effect in Nursing and Healthcare: The Symphonological Ap-
of teaching ethical principles on a student’s ability proach (Husted & Husted, 2001), offered a clarified
to use these in practical ways through case studies. description of the theory, with advanced concepts
J. Husted was very instrumental in the selection of the separated from the basic concepts. In addition, the
dissertation topic and was used as a consultant during model was redrawn to better represent the nonlinear
the process. Development of G. Husted’s doctoral nature of the theory in practice. The fourth edition
work led to numerous publications and presentations offers further clarification of concepts and the inte-
before the first edition of the book Ethical Decision gration of concepts in the theory as a whole. In addi-
Making in Nursing was published in 1991. This first tion, the text is rearranged to present the concepts
edition presented their work as a conceptual model from simple to more complex.
only. As they continued to develop their ideas, incor- As the theory emerged, the need for an emphasis
porating feedback from graduate students, the Sym- on the individual became apparent and essential. In
phonological theory emerged. Before publication of recent years, it has become accepted practice in the
the second edition, the Husteds (1995a) continued to literature to designate patients and nurses as “he/she,”
clarify the theoretical concepts and developed the or simply use the plural form, referring to nurses
model for practice. and their patients. The authors recognized that these