ABSTRACT
The Francis Report as well as the responses of leading nursing and medical associations in England identified three ethical values to guide the reformation of the NHS standards: dignity, respect, and compassion. This chapter explores the ethical implications of identifying these values as foundational to high quality health care practice and the concerns and dilemmas that face professionals who strive to integrate these values into their care of persons experiencing mental health-substance use problems. Compassion is the quintessential virtue of healers. Compassion is also more than just doing for others, or giving technical clinical interventions of high quality. Respect is the fundamental regard, even reverence, we have for the intrinsic dignity of the human being. Dignity in care, therefore, means the kind of care, in any setting, which supports and promotes, and does not undermine, a person's self-respect regardless of any difference.
