ABSTRACT
This chapter focuses on ethics issues specific to the life care planner with suggestions for minimizing potential problems. It discusses the Standards of Practice for Life Care Planners from the International Academy of Life Care Planners (IALCP). Ethics statements represent judgments about morality, what is right or wrong, good or bad, and how to deal with everyday situations. An ethical decision-making model is desired when confronted with an ethical dilemma. Many ethics guidelines overlap with each other, and others have significant differences in detail. However, there are several concepts that appear to apply across the board. According to Banja and Blackwell, the four commonalities are: autonomy, nonmaleficence, beneficence, and justice. Life care planners need to exercise due care by diligently reviewing case materials, seeking appropriate research and information, and following a process consistent with standards of the specialty practice that results in credible opinions and conclusions.
