Nursing Ethics

 

Advanced Search

Journal Navigation

Journal Home

Subscriptions

Archive

Contact Us

Table of Contents

Sign In to gain access to subscriptions and/or personal tools.
This Article
Right arrow Full Text (PDF)
Right arrow References
Right arrow Alert me when this article is cited
Right arrow Alert me if a correction is posted
Right arrow Citation Map
Services
Right arrow Email this article to a friend
Right arrow Similar articles in this journal
Right arrow Similar articles in PubMed
Right arrow Alert me to new issues of the journal
Right arrow Add to Saved Citations
Right arrow Download to citation manager
Right arrow Add to My Marked Citations
Citing Articles
Right arrow Citing Articles via HighWire
Right arrow Citing Articles via Google Scholar
Google Scholar
Right arrow Articles by Mattiasson, A.-C.
Right arrow Articles by Hemberg, M.
Right arrow Search for Related Content
PubMed
Right arrow PubMed Citation
Right arrow Articles by Mattiasson, A.-C.
Right arrow Articles by Hemberg, M.
Social Bookmarking
Add to CiteULike   Add to Connotea   Add to Del.icio.us   Add to Digg   Add to Reddit   Add to Technorati  
What's this?
Nursing Ethics, Vol. 5, No. 6, 527-534 (1998)
DOI: 10.1177/096973309800500607
© 1998 SAGE Publications

Intimacy - Meeting Needs and Respecting Privacy in the Care of Elderly People: what is a good moral attitude on the part of the nurse/carer?

Anne-Cathrine Mattiasson

HM Queen Sophia University College of Nursing, Stockholm, Sweden

Maja Hemberg

Lund University, Lund, Sweden

This article explores notions of intimacy in the caring context. The aspects discussed are: privacy and intimacy; intimacy as emotional and/or physical closeness; intimacy as touch; sexual intimacy and normal ageing; sexual intimacy and patients suffering from dementia; and intimacy as trust. Examples are given and problems are identified, with reflection on the attitude and behaviour of the carer. It is suggested that when trying to make moral decisions in concrete situations it is imperative that the carer is aware of the values upon which his or her own thinking is based. It is argued that the guiding principle should be the moral assumption that the carer’s responsibility can never be interpreted as a right to disregard the wishes of the patient. Hence, the key word in daily care is ‘respect’.

Key Words: care of elderly people • intimacy • privacy • sexuality • touch


Add to CiteULike CiteULike   Add to Connotea Connotea   Add to Del.icio.us Del.icio.us   Add to Digg Digg   Add to Reddit Reddit   Add to Technorati Technorati    What's this?


This article has been cited by other articles:


Home page
 J. Med. EthicsHome page
A Heikkinen, V Launis, P Wainwright, and H Leino-Kilpi
Privacy and occupational health services.
J. Med. Ethics, September 1, 2006; 32(9): 522 - 525.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

Home page
 Nurs EthicsHome page
S. Teeri, H. Leino-Kilpi, and M. Valimaki
Long-Term Nursing Care of Elderly People: Identifying ethically problematic experiences among patients, relatives and nurses in Finland
Nursing Ethics, March 1, 2006; 13(2): 116 - 129.
[Abstract] [PDF]

Home page
 Nurs EthicsHome page
H.-M. Hilden and M.-L. Honkasalo
Finnish Nurses' Interpretations of Patient Autonomy in the Context of End-of-Life Decision Making
Nursing Ethics, January 1, 2006; 13(1): 41 - 51.
[Abstract] [PDF]

Home page
 Nurs EthicsHome page
P. Palviainen, M. Hietala, P. Routasalo, T. Suominen, and M. Hupli
Do Nurses Exercise Power in Basic Care Situations?
Nursing Ethics, May 1, 2003; 10(3): 269 - 280.
[Abstract] [PDF]

Home page
 Nurs EthicsHome page
A. Schopp, H. Leino-Kilpi, M. Valimaki, T. Dassen, M. Gasull, C. Lemonidou, P A. Scott, M. Arndt, and A. Kaljonen
Perceptions of Privacy in the Care of Elderly People in Five European Countries
Nursing Ethics, January 1, 2003; 10(1): 39 - 47.
[Abstract] [PDF]