Power ethics as a trust basis in medical care relationships
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Abstract
The paper assumes that trust is an essential component in human relationships, and we can see this especially in the relationships of the caring professions: they are by their nature asymmetric and their recipient is in a vulnerable situation. The purpose of the essay is to analyze the essence of power and its ethical requirements, so as to identify right and wrong forms of power relationships. I therefore examine power as to its object, motives and intentions. As regards the object of the power action, this can have the purpose of a) improvement or growth, of b) preservation and protection, and of c) destruction. As concerns motivation, those with power may want to make the world better than it is, to affirm themselves, to enjoy the benefits of power, to express love or hatred. As regards, finally, the intentions, the power can be exercised in an instrumental way, making use of something orsomeone, or with the aim to enslave another, or because you want to serve others. If we consider all these aspects, we can find the morally good way of exercising power, but also the diseases in the power relationships, and thus see how the abuse of power can undermine trust in the professions of care.
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