Ethics and Lactation Consultants: Developing Knowledge, Skills, and Tools

Abstract

This article studies the role of ethics in the context of the work of International Board Certified Lactation Consultants. It provides an overview of some of the main ethical approaches with the goal of contributing to the knowledge, skills, and tools required by lactation consultants. Five main sections structure the article: background, current literature, ethical theory and principles, implications for lactation consultants, and decision-making frameworks. Background about the International Board of Lactation Consultant Examiners and International Board Certified Lactation Consultants and the significance of applied ethics in their work are described. Current literature regarding ethics and lactation consultants is reviewed. Because a computer-based literature search yielded a lack of articles, ethics in nursing literature is also presented. Three main ethical theories and 5 key ethical principles are explored with a view to their implications for lactation consultants. Finally, decision-making frameworks are considered as systematic tools for making ethical decisions.