Navigating Professional Boundaries in Fractious Times
Nick Jones, Chief Executive and Registrar, reflects on the pressures of practising in an increasingly polarised society.
We live in difficult and fractious times. I cannot recall a moment in my career when political and social issues felt so charged - when disagreeing with a particular viewpoint could so quickly cast you as the enemy. In an age where opinion travels faster than reflection, public debate has become less about dialogue and more about division.
But how does this affect you as a chiropractor? and why am I, your registrar, blogging about it?
Last week, the Professional Standards Authority (PSA) published a letter addressing what is acceptable for health and care practitioners when expressing views on topical issues and global events. It affirms:
While preserving freedom of speech is important, hate crime and hate speech are unequivocally unacceptable. Such behaviours undermine professional standards and erode public confidence in healthcare practitioners.
Thankfully, such cases are rare in chiropractic. But when they do arise, I’m confident we respond appropriately and robustly.
The PSA’s letter coincides with the launch of our short consultation on the revised Guidance for Registrants on Professional Boundaries, which now includes a section on respect and dignity. This marks a significant expansion from the previous edition, which focused solely on sexual boundaries. The draft has benefitted enormously from input from the RCC, Professional Associations, and the GCC EDI working group.
Among the many updates, one stands out: for the first time we have included explicit guidance on your right to cease care.
Let me be clear - you are entitled to cease treating a patient if they persist in inappropriately crossing a professional boundary. We ask that you first attempt to resolve the situation, document your actions and reasoning, and, where possible, help the patient find alternative care. You are not expected to tolerate abuse or otherwise unacceptable behaviour.
And, to return to the PSA’s letter, aggressively asserting a political, religious or racial opinion can cross the professional boundary of respect. You and your patient may not agree on every topic, but we expect any discussion to remain respectful and not interfere with clinical care. This expectation applies both ways.
Issues such as conflicts in the Middle East, immigration, nationalism, and the Supreme Court ruling on sex and gender are complex and nuanced. They are ill-suited to the soundbite culture of today, where aggression and contempt for differing views are commonplace. In this climate, professionalism means maintaining respect, dignity, and focus - especially when others do not.
Comments
02.07.2020 at 11:35
02.07.2020 at 12:21
This is enlightening Kerri.
02.07.2020 at 12:22
Great blog Kerii, honest and inspiring. Your measures of outcome and satisfaction for patients speak for themselves.
27.11.2020 at 10:35
As I would see it, understudy life in London is an extraordinary encounter when contrasted with different colleges around the nation. Since the college is so focal it feels all around incorporated with the encompassing proficient businesses. Furthermore, probably the best thing about being in the capital is that you will never run out of cool things to see and do https://www.knowledge4sure.com/70-483-exam-questions.html.
I am as yet uncertain of precisely what I might want to do when I alumni, however it is extraordinary to as of now feel like I am being incorporated into the chiropractic business. I anticipate going to more meetings in my third year of study to investigate further the various conceivable outcomes inside chiropractic as a calling.
06.01.2021 at 15:28
A brilliant, well thought out and well written piece on a very important topic Tallulah. Excellent work! 😊 I particularly like simplicity of the message that clear communication around this complex and often divisive issue is essential. I look forward to seeing what you write in the future.
06.01.2021 at 17:15
Thank You for this blog Tallulah, you have certainly made me think about these issues. It is uncomfortable enough as a white member of the profession to hear the ‘I’m not racist but….’ phrase, I am horrified to hear that it can be experienced directly as a POC in the chiropractor/patient interaction. I would certainly take on board your suggestions and think you have raised awareness for us all. Look forward to more work on this from the GCC
07.01.2021 at 13:13
Thank you Tallulah for a balanced and informative article. It is a step forward to see on our regulator’s website, your thoughts on a subject that has been danced around for years. It must be that the aftershock of George Floyd and BLM will take us beyond lip-service and the symbolism of ‘taking the knee’ and on to making real changes in our society. Our profession is overwhelmingly white and middle class and based in areas that reflect that fact. As you point out, new registrants have combined financial pressures loaded upon them. It would be a small but significant step to reduce the first two years of registration fees and I call upon the GCC to look at this.
The McTimoney Trust have initiated charity funded chiropractic clinics targeted at patients who would not otherwise has been able to access chiropractic care, including for the homeless in Birmingham. It would be great to hear of others and from practitioners who are interested in getting care to the wider community. It is my guess that the primary motivation of most chiropractors is the ‘caring’ and that should be enjoyed by the whole of society.
05.05.2021 at 17:36
I have had the pleasure of working with Tim Jay over many years. He has contributed greatly to our profession. I hope chiropractors will note his comments on collaboration with others and the profession working together to advance chiropractic further towards its full potential.
This is very useful for anyone wanting to study Chiropractic.