Presentation in Belgium, September 18-20, 2007

Joan Garity, Associate Professor, College of Nursing and Health Sciences, presented a paper on Ethical Decision-Making Models at the inaugural conference for Setting an Ethical Agenda in Health Promotion sponsored by Ghent University in Belgium, September 18-20, 2007. The main points of her presentation examined the need for students and nurses to understand and be able to use several different ethical decision-making models when assisting patients and their families in resolving ethical dilemmas that relate to cultural differences in health promotion. For example, early research with some Hispanic individuals has demonstrated that they may value a little plumpness in their culture and not see exercise as feminine which may in turn not be helpful in better controlling their weight and lowering the associated risks of hypertension and diabetes.