Parental substance and alcohol abuse: Two ethical frameworks to assess whether and how intervention is appropriate. (10th July 2021)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Snoek, Anke; Horstkötter, Dorothee
• Other Names: Byers Philippa guestEditor.; Matthews Steve guestEditor.; Kennett Jeanette guestEditor.
• Is Part Of: Bioethics. Volume 35:Number 9(2021)
• Page Start: 916
• Page End: 924
• Publication Date: 2021-07-10
• Subjects: autonomy -- beneficence -- child abuse -- ethics of care -- moral dilemmas -- normative frameworks -- parenting -- substance dependency; Bioethics -- Periodicals; 174.957
• DOI: 10.1111/bioe.12920
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0269-9702

Abstract

Abstract: Ethical frameworks can support professionals' decision‐making. Here, we identify two ethical frameworks to analyse the best support for families that struggle with parental substance or alcohol abuse. The first framework, which we call 'the framework of conflicting interests', is most prominent in the literature. Here, the interests of parents and children are weighed against each other using the medical ethical principles of respect for autonomy, justice, beneficence, and non‐maleficence. The second framework is most prominent in a series of interviews we conducted with alcohol‐dependent parents and professionals working in addiction care and youth care. This framework aligns more with an ethics of care, and starts with the assumption that the interests of people who are close to each other are often intertwined. This framework does not so much look at conflicting interests, but at relationships and vulnerability. We label this the ethics of care framework. In this article, we show the value of both frameworks and how they can support ethical decision‐making.