Collective responsibility in interdisciplinary collaboration: an ethical perspective for social workers

Area of Science:

• Social Work
• Healthcare Ethics
• Interdisciplinary Studies

Background:

• Interdisciplinary collaboration is crucial in modern healthcare.
• Defining collective responsibility within these teams presents ethical challenges.
• A social work perspective offers a unique lens for analyzing team dynamics and accountability.

Purpose of the Study:

• To analyze the concept of collective responsibility in interdisciplinary healthcare collaboration.
• To examine moral agency and decision-making processes within healthcare teams.
• To propose guidelines for enhancing collective responsibility.

Main Methods:

• Conceptual analysis from a social work perspective.
• Exploration of ethical considerations in collective decision-making.
• Review of existing literature on team responsibility and accountability.

Main Results:

• Moral agency and responsibility allocation in collective decision-making require careful consideration.
• Individual moral agency and the extent of responsibility during group disagreement are complex.
• Conflicting obligations necessitate clear prioritization of moral responsibility.

Conclusions:

• Enhancing collective responsibility in healthcare teams requires addressing the allocation of moral agency and decision-making.
• Clear guidelines are needed to navigate disagreements and conflicting obligations.
• A social work framework can illuminate pathways to more effective team accountability.