Thanks for including that abridged review Helen and Alison. Much
appreciated. I didn't quite know what the reviewer/Helen? (sorry)  meant by
there being a lack of discussion of population health (could be
pre-Christmas brain drain on my behalf!) and I am keen to understand. I
quite liked the disquiet I also got from the practice& prejudice text.It
sort of mirrored the disquiet I have had intellectually and practically for
a while now. So the disquiet was not a new or unusual thing.

I kind of liked the idea I thought Seedhouse threw out there about looking
at the theoretical and ethical foundations of health promotion. This is
because I have some reasons for holding some ethical and ideological
criticisms of mainstream health psychology theory in the first instance. I
kind of wish that there was some HP practice developed or discussed from
critical health psychology perspective (or maybe we are doing that and I
just dont know- highly likely!!) I feel really uncomfortable with the what I
see as some ethical implications of mainstream health psychology being
adopted in working with people.

Maybe when we are examining our theoretical, ideological and ethical bases
we may find ourselves talking about social context and equity differently?
Maybe these issues are already are or are not part of HP at a deeper and
more fundamental philosophical and theoretical level? Maybe this is why
David Seedhouse doesn't (if he doesn't) talk about these concepts? I lean
toward thinking that he could be saying that equity and social context is
dealt with at a deeper level by talking about ethics, theory, philosophy and
politics. Hope this has been of interest as your most helpful comments were.

thanks again.
Peta Sharrock



 Original Message -----
From: "Stirling, Alison" <[log in to unmask]>
To: <[log in to unmask]>
Sent: Friday, December 14, 2001 12:01 AM
Subject: Re: health promotion, political philosophy and theory: Seedhouse,
D.


> Helen Rance of the Health Promotion Forum in New Zealand attempted to send
a
> reply to Peta Sharrock's request regarding reviews of David Seedhouse's
> writings, however she is not a Click4HP subscriber and her posting of a
> review that she wrote was too long.  Click4HP listserv has a new policy of
> limiting postings to 250 lines to help keep the discussion flowing and not
> tie up email boxes of readers.
>
> Below is a slightly abridged book review written in April 2001 and
Published
> in the Health Promotion Forum of NZ newsletter.  Helen Rance indicates
that
> the last paragraph is very important [to this discussion].
>
> Book reviews
>
> The ethical implications health promotion practice in Aotearoa-New Zealand
> appears to be an issue for many of the workforce. The development of
values
> and ethical guidelines as part of the competency development process,
muted
> calls for a "code of ethics" indicate that the issue is on top for quite a
> number of practitioners right now. Among this background of interest, two
> books by philosopher and academic David Seedhouse have made a very timely
> appearance. Both volumes complement each other. One presents a wider
> perspective of ethics in health while the other looks at our individual
> philosophy, values and prejudices which form the platform for ethical
health
> promotion practice.
>
> Ethics The Heart of Health Care - Second edition 1998  David Seedhouse
> While not specifically written for health promoters, in this edition
> Seedhouse challenges us that as 'work for health' is inextricably involved
> with people and interactions between them, it is a 'moral endeavour'
> therefore 'creating health requires ethical commitment.'
> So how do we make ethical decisions about our practice?  Critical
reflection
> of both the situation and our own values are necessary and this book
> provides us firstly with theory and background then tools to assist us.
15
> case stories present a range of health scenarios some of which may feel
> familiar, including tobacco sponsorship, immunisation, coercion, drug
> education. Thus the scene is set for following chapters that explore
values
> and morality and the implications for health work.
> Working through dilemmas to systematically reach ethical decisions in
> practice is not easy but Seedhouse offers us the ethical grid as a tool to
> help.  Ethical practice is not a matter of rights and wrongs rather it is
> about understanding, reasoning then justifying actions and interventions.
> From the wider perspective of ethics in health I then moved to the book
> written specifically for health promotion
>
> Health Promotion Philosophy, Prejudice and Practice David Seedhouse 1997
> Health promotion is values based and competent practice involves a
> recognition that values underpin our practice. Seedhouse challenges us to
> reflect on and understand these values in pursuit of ethical health
> promotion practice.
> Diane Grant a reporter for the Willesville Chronicle, wants to write an
> article on health promotion. She meets with the Willesville District
Health
> Promotion Unit and after a session with staff, instead of being enabled
with
> information for her article, she is confused and bewildered about health
> promotion.  What follows is a series of philosophical chapters,
interspersed
> with the case story of Diane who finally reaches an understanding of and
> becomes an advocate for health promotion. Many of the scenarios in Diane's
> story may reflect some health promoters own learning experiences.  This
> approach makes light reading of some thought provoking theories that might
> otherwise be very dry.
>
> To help clarify learning and application of the theories, both books are
> illustrated with stimulating exercises. As reflected in the reality of
> practice most exercises do not have a right or wrong outcome but encourage
> the reader to work through logical processes thus assisting reasoned
> decisions, which is something Seedhouse clearly feels lacking in health
> promotion.
>
> I am left with a little disquiet about both books.  Although shifting
> paradigms of health are mentioned strongly in 'Ethics' and the whole of
the
> second book is about 'Health Promotion' there is very little reference to
> population health.  Well through the later book 'health of populations' is
> mentioned but some health promoters have trouble with this terminology.
> Social contexts and equity issues are mentioned only as background
> conditions to the health of the individual.  However both books are
thought
> provoking and encourage critical reflection about the values and ethics of
> health promotion practice.
>
> If I can be of any further assistance please keep in touch
>
> Helen Rance
> Health Promotion Forum
> Email: [log in to unmask]
> http://www.hpforum.org.nz
>
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