ethics case study

[Guest guest]

Turning the situation I described into a case study, I see several potential

routes that could be taken, and others undoubtedly could contribute more. I'm

not particularly attached to this scenario, others may have more vital or

compelling or more interesting case studies. The way ethics develops in a

profession is this type of forum participation; perhaps an herbal case study

anyone?

 

I have a collegial relationship with the Director, and the display and it's

contents were approved for display in the waiting room by the Division Chief and

the Director. The problem with presenting this situation as a case study is that

I do not know if the other individual has met or gotten their brochure

'approved' so to speak. However it's still not acceptable to replace an existing

brochure with one's own.

 

I could do nothing. And simply continue to refill the contents on a weekly

basis as I do now. The opposing argument here is something like 'it's a free

market economy, anyone with the credentials can advertise, and the display is

not proprietary. "

 

I could call or visit the individual who is adding their brochure, without

addressing the issue and see if it comes up in conversation. The Daoist approach

allows this individual to have responsibility for their own karma. Also, they

may well have approval to share the display. I have referred a couple patients

to this practitioner in the past, and we are former friendly classmates.

 

I could contact the individual and be direct about the display and the error

in the licensing date. What is the goal of so doing? I would like to maintain

my own marketing tool. I am open to being a peer to encourage truth in

advertising.

 

 

 

>What's unusual about our profession is people practice it in such

 

>Different ways and at such different levels--some people feel qualified and are

 

>financially successful with little education. Others feel unless they

 

>learn Chinese and study daily they aren't fit to practice. I don't see a

 

>consensus on what 'qualified' means in our field.

>Marian

 

 

Good point, Marian. Why does it make one a more credible, qualified herbalist

simply because one says they 'come from a family with generations of history as

herbalists?' Why does adding a chinese name to one's brochure and chinese

characters make an individual appear more qualified in TCM? The brain works in

such a way as to categorize and homogenize perceptions. I don't believe the

brain inherently exercises a critical thinking muscle. I am not going to swim

thousands of years upstream in brain evolution to change the way potential

clients see my brochure and call me so I can make a living. But I do have to get

my own brochure and display 'out there.'

 

My problem with confidence is that it doesn't necessarily produce a

 

 

better practitioner,

 

I agree with this. It's the same concept as those who ace tests with the 4.0 gpa

 

are not necessarily the best practitioners.

 

And by the way, I've had a fantastic life too since becoming a TCM practitioner

 

for all the reasons Eric states. And it is easier to make a living outside

California or

 

afar from saturated areas.

 

-Pamela