Ethical Dilemma Experiences in Debra’s Recreation Therapy Career
Eric Collins
Debra Rice (CTRS)
Memorial Rehabilitation Hospital South
“Ethical Dilemma Experiences in Debra’s Recreation Therapy Career”
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Ethical Dilemma Experiences in Debra’s Recreation Therapy Career
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Introduction
An ethical dilemma also known as a moral dilemma is a situation where a choice has to
be made between two options that neither resolves the situation in an ethical manner. Ethical
dilemmas don’t always have a clear cut solution because no matter what decision is made, one
side if not both sides are going to be unsatisfied and discontent with the final decision. Ethical
dilemmas occur frequently every day in the healthcare industry, especially in the field of
Recreation Therapy. In this paper, Debra shares some of ethical dilemmas she has confronted
while practicing as a recreational therapist.
Discussion and Concise statement of the Dilemma
After interviewing Debra Rice, a licensed CTRS, over the phone, I learned about multiple
ethical dilemmas that she has encountered. Debra informed me that in a social setting, moral
issues are likely to arise because personal relationships are established. For example, Debra
shared a story about a busy Tuesday morning in which she became too tangled with the
abundance on patients in her clinic. On this day, Debra asked her coworker for assistance in
treating some of her patients but for one particular patient, gave an incorrect file to her coworker
who was going to direct the activities to that patient. Debra says that at that moment she realized
immediately that she had second guessed herself but it was too late, her coworker was already
inside the room seeing the patient with the wrong file.
Luckily for Debra, the patient came out of the room and looked as though he was having
a sensational time with the activities. The question remains, if the situation had gone wrong and
someone would have gotten hurt, who would be to blame for the damages or injuries caused?
Would it be acceptable for Debra to cover up and avoid revealing her mistake? Even if Debra
knew that confusing the files could in no way cause harm to the patient, would it be
acceptable to avoid revealing her mistake? In the worst case, the patient could have reacted
destructively and hurt someone. All the activities planned for the day could have been ruined and
the therapist may lose all trust and rapport with that patient.
Debra provided me with an example of how a schizophrenic patient she had worked with
in the past had thrown a tantrum in front of the other clients and became hostile towards other
patients. It later became known that the patient had thrown the tantrum because the room he was
in was full of mirrors and he despised them. Debra had made the mistake of treating a patient
with multiple personality disorder inside a room with multiple mirrors. She now faced the ethical
dilemma of deciding whether to put the blame on the patient for having a short temper and being
very dangerous towards other or taking the blame herself for placing the patient in an
uncomfortable setting that would ignite a negative reaction.
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My Reaction
If any therapeutic recreation specialist makes a mistake involving a patient, it should be
revealed immediately even if it the therapist believes it would not cause harm to them in the
future. ATRA’s code of ethics first principle of beneficence states that Recreational Therapy
personnel will maximize possible benefits and relieving, lessening, and minimize harm. The first
step to minimizing harm is to know the limitations of the patients you are treating before you
step inside the room to meet them. If the therapist has knowledge of the patient’s capabilities,
this will better prepare him/her to approach the patient safely and more effectively. Principle 6
which revolves around Veracity states that Recreational Therapy personnel shall be truthful and
honest. Therefore if the therapist makes a mistake, it is only fair to both the patient and his/her
family to know the absolute truth of the situation at hand. It is important to understand that
“Cover-ups” are never okay and that operating as a professional in the healthcare field, your
license is always at risk. The more open a Therapeutic Recreation specialist is to the patient’s,
the more acceptable the patients will be to mistakes.
Overall I was shocked to hear Debra’s Ethical Dilemma experiences during her time
working in the Memorial Hospital. Although her ethical dilemmas occurred years ago, she still
believes they still occur today; she calls it a presenting problem in the healthcare field. All
healthcare professionals, not just TR specialists should be truthful to 100 percent of their patients
100 percent of the time. As professionals, we take an oath and covering up is only a form of
lying.