A Grounded Theory Study of the Approaches and Mechanisms Used in Public Health Practice for Everyday Ethical Dilemma Negotiation and Resolution

Abstract

Public health professionals experience dilemmas in their everyday work and many of these dilemmas are challenges where they must find the most ethical way to manage the situation. How these dilemmas are approached, negotiated, and resolved is an area that has been given little attention in the literature and in the Canadian public health system. This paper describes the everyday ethical dilemmas experienced by public health professionals working in two publicly funded health units along with the mechanisms they used to negotiate and resolve these challenges. Using grounded theory this thesis also outlines the approaches used by these public health professionals to manage the everyday ethical dilemmas they experienced in practice. The findings may provide guidance for other public health professionals who are faced with making challenging decisions concerning everyday ethical dilemmas experienced in practice.