ABSTRACT
Ethical issues for adult children and parents are bounded by mutuality, obligation, and responsibility; the consideration of the needs of both parents and children; the historical experiences of the family—ways of relating, value systems and world views. The Ethical issues also includes problem solving; the availability of resources both within and without the family; and the immediate context of decision making that is affected by socio-cultural and political mores and events. The chapter describes the loyalty of family members to each other, the trust which this implies, and the ability to balance the fair or just give and take between generations. Relational ethics are about trust, loyalty, who owes what to whom and when, obligations, and mutuality. The most important formal ethical principles for adult children—parent relationships are autonomy, beneficence, and justice. Autonomy has three dimensions: physical, psychological, and spiritual.
