Ethical Dilemmas in Audiology

Callahan, Ashleigh J.; Lass, Norman J.; Richards, Kimberly L.; Yost, Andrea B.; Porter, Kristen S.; Schrock, Jessica J.; Vetica, Marissa D.

doi:10.1044/cicsd_38_s_76

Cited by 5 publications

(8 citation statements)

References 3 publications

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“…The categories used for decision-making were similar, corresponding to the clients' goals and preferences, discussions with the colleagues or supervisors, trial and error, previous experience, and the manufacturer's or employer's incentives (please see the questionnaire in the Supplementary Materials). The categories used in the questionnaire were based on a similar survey of ethical dilemmas in audiology developed by Callahan et al [4].…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Further, to decide whether a situation should be considered an ethical dilemma, the audiologist should gather and take into consideration all the circumstances while exploring different perspectives on the problem [4].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The term ethics refers to judgements not exclusively about what is right or wrong, but also about what is praiseworthy or blameworthy [4,5]. A code of ethics for professional associations is pivotal in maintaining the ethical standards of audiological practice [6][7][8].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Audiologist’s Perspective in Auditory Rehabilitation: Implications for Ethical Conduct and Decision-Making in Portugal

et al. 2022

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Ethical standards in audiology have been continuously improved and discussed, leading to the elaboration of specific regulatory guidelines for the profession. However, in the field of auditory rehabilitation, audiologists are still faced with circumstances that question their ethical principles, usually associated with the support of the hearing aids industry. The study explores the decision-making process and ethical concerns in auditory rehabilitation as they relate to the practice of audiology in Portugal. An online questionnaire constructed by the authors was used and sent to the email addresses of a list of audiologists, registered with the Portuguese Association of Audiologists. The questionnaire was answered by 93 audiologists with clinical experience in auditory rehabilitation for more than one year. The collected data demonstrated that audiometric results and clinical experience are the most important factors for decision-making in auditory rehabilitation practice. Moreover, incentives from the employers or manufacturers were identified as the main cause of ethical dilemmas. This study highlights the ethical concerns regarding the clinical practice of auditory rehabilitation in Portugal, revealing that the decision-making process is complex and, specifically in this field, the current practice may not be adequate for effective compliance with professional ethical standards.

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Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Audiologist’s Perspective in Auditory Rehabilitation: Implications for Ethical Conduct and Decision-Making in Portugal

et al. 2022

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“…9 Participants reported qualitatively that financial incentives were a factor contributing to “moral distress”—an emotional state arising from a situation when a person feels that the ethically correct action to take is different from what they are tasked with doing. 9,10…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…9 Participants reported qualitatively that financial incentives were a factor contributing to "moral distress"-an emotional state arising from a situation when a person feels that the ethically correct action to take is different from what they are tasked with doing. 9,10 While early research exploring moral distress largely centered on the profession of nursing, 11 recent evidence shows moral distress as a widespread phenomenon across several health-related professions, including audiology. 9,12 Several negative consequences have been associated with moral distress, including physical exhaustion, feelings of sadness, anxiety, and depression, 13 job disatisfaction, and poorer quality of client care.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Financial incentives and moral distress in Australian audiologists and audiometrists

Simpson

Fawcett²,

McLeod³

et al. 2022

Clinical Ethics

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Introduction Financial incentive schemes have been commonly used by the hearing aid industry as a way of encouraging device sales. These schemes can lead to a conflict of interest as the hearing device dispenser is torn between personal reward over the best interests of their client. This conflict of interest has the potential for the dispenser to develop “moral distress”, a negative state of mind when an individual’s ethical values contrast with those of the employing organization. The purpose of this study was to investigate if there was a relationship between financial incentives and moral distress in Australian audiologists and audiometrists. Methods An online survey was distributed to all members of Audiology Australia and the Australian College of Audiology via email. Participants rated their perceived moral distress from 0 to 10 on the Moral Distress Thermometer and answered four questions about financial incentives in their respective workplace. Results A total of 65 participants, 42 females and 23 males, completed the online survey. A quarter of participants rated their moral distress corresponding to levels of uncomfortable or above. A statistically significant association was found between financial incentives, sales target setting, and higher perceived moral distress in participants. Conclusions For our sample, the implementation of financial incentives created ethical challenges for practicing audiologists and audiometrists. Modifications to employee rewards programs as well as a regulation of device sales are recommended.

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Artificial intelligence for hearing loss prevention, diagnosis, and management

AlSamhori,

Amourah

et al. 2024

Journal of Medicine, Surgery, and Public Health

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Ethical Dilemmas in Audiology

Cited by 5 publications

References 3 publications

Audiologist’s Perspective in Auditory Rehabilitation: Implications for Ethical Conduct and Decision-Making in Portugal

Audiologist’s Perspective in Auditory Rehabilitation: Implications for Ethical Conduct and Decision-Making in Portugal

Financial incentives and moral distress in Australian audiologists and audiometrists

Artificial intelligence for hearing loss prevention, diagnosis, and management

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