Assoc Professor Ben Gray1
1University Of Otago Wellington
Those who are against cultural relativity argue that “even if a universal set of ethical norms has not yet been articulated or agreed upon , ethical relativism is a pernicious doctrine’[1] However statements on Cultural Safety insist that a doctor must show “A respect for your patients’ cultural beliefs, values and practices.[and have] understanding that your patients’ cultural beliefs, values and practices influence their perceptions of health, illness and disease; how they respond to and manage their health;…”[2] How can you respect your patient’s values and beliefs if you think that they are morally wrong?
This presentation will argue that ethics is culture bound and that the failing of those against relativity has been to acknowledge that every ethical viewpoint is culture bound. I will provide some detail of my understanding of “culture” including the idea that we have a Global Culture, and that “culture is dynamic and evolves over time, extends beyond ethnicity, and that patients and their whānau may identify with multiple cultural groupings at any one point in time.”
The important consequence of this analysis is that Bioethics should spend less attention arguing about what is right, and more attention on how people who disagree can reach decisions that they are happy to live with.
Biography:
Associate Professor Ben Gray worked as a GP serving high needs diverse populations for 35 years and convenes the undergraduate teaching for undergraduate medical students at University of Otago Wellington. He has a particular interest in working with interpreters and cross cultural care. His MBHL dissertation was “How does the concept of cultural competence affect the practice of bioethics and health law” and much of his focus in clinical bioethics has been around ethics in a pluralist society.