Tutorial 1

This blog will be looking at Information technology in society, the relevance it has to Occupational Therapy and the ethical considerations that need to be taken into account.

Definition of Information Technology/Information Communications Technology:
“Information Technology is the study, design, development, implementation, support or management of infotech. It is a general term that describes any technology that helps to produce, manipulate, store, communicate, and/or disseminate information” (Information technology, 2010).

Information technology. (2010). In Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. Retrieved 07:49, June 12, 2010, from http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Information_technology&oldid=367571191

Information technology has become very prevalent in our society. People of all ages are using many forms of information technology for a range of purposes. For example computers are being used by ages ranging from school children to elderly for purposes ranging from entertainment to networking to research. The expectations of people using information technology are evident with the example of in many information forms that you fill out you are asked what your cellphone number and internet address is. People depend on information technology on a day to day bases for things like being able to carry out their job to communicating with their loved ones.

IT devices or systems that I feel comfortable and competent with using are computers (facebook, google, moodle, itunes), ipod, cellphone, telephone, T.V., D.V.D. player, camera

In my fieldwork experiences I have come across I.T. being used in Occupational Therapy practice. Communication is very important as O.T.’s are often referring clients onto other organizations as well as receiving referrals, in which the I.T. of phones and computers (for emailing) and fax machines becomes a common use. Communication through these I.T. devices is also used when collecting data about the patient. Computer systems are now more commonly being used to document information about treatment with a patient, which means OT's document their interventions and can also access the intervention of other health professionals working with their clients. I.T. is also being used in therapy with the patients. I.T. devices such as television, computers and cameras can provide a client with meaningful and satisfying occupation.

When sharing and transferring information via I.T. devices (e.g. mobile phones) or systems (e.g. internet) ethical implications arise. There are many ethical factors involved when transferring information via I.T. devices. Factors such as who is sending the information, who is receiving the information, and what the content of the information is needs to be taken into account. Some things to take into account when sending information are listed below:
-Privacy: the information being shared should not contain any private information about a person that they have not consented to be shared
-Identity: the person sending the information should identify who they are and this needs to be truthful
-Appropriate information: no information shared should be of an abusive nature or is going to cause harm to anyone.
-Acknowledge sources of information: when information is not your own, it the source of the information needs to be acknowledged

Definition of Computer Ethics:
“Computer Ethics is a branch of practical philosophy which deals with how computing professionals should make decisions regarding professional and social conduct” (Computer ethics, 2010)

Computer ethics. (2010). In Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. Retrieved 08:47, June 12, 2010, from http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Computer_ethics&oldid=360496943

Definition of Intellectual Property:
“Intellectual property (IP) is a term referring to a number of distinct types of creations of the mind for which property rights are recognised -and the corresponding fields of law. Under intellectual property law, owners are granted certain exclusive rights to a variety of intangible assets, such as musical, literary, and artistic works; discoveries and inventions; and words, phrases, symbols, and designs. Common types of intellectual property include copyrights, trademarks, patents, industrial design rights and trade secrets in some jurisdictions” (Intellectual property, 2010).

Intellectual property. (2010). In Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. Retrieved 08:54, June 12, 2010, from http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Intellectual_property&oldid=366993205

Definition of Social Justice:
“Social justice is the application of the concept of justice on a social scale. It is a concept that some use to describe the movement towards a socially just world. In this context, social justice is based on the concepts of human rights and equality and involves a greater degree of economic egalitarianism through progressive taxation, income redistribution, or even property redistribution. These policies aim to achieve what developmental economists refer to as more equality of opportunity than may currently exist in some societies, and to manufacture equality of outcome in cases where incidental inequalities appear in a procedurally just system” (Social Justice, 2010).

Social justice. (2010). In Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. Retrieved 08:56, June 12, 2010, from http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Social_justice&oldid=367021722

Definition of Informed Consent:
“Informed consent is a phrase often used in the law to indicate that the consent a person gives meets certain minimum standards. As a literal matter, in the absence of fraud, it is redundant. An informed consent can be said to have been given based upon a clear appreciation and understanding of the facts, implications, and future consequences of an action. In order to give informed consent, the individual concerned must have adequate reasoning faculties and be in possession of all relevant facts at the time consent is given” (Informed consent, 2010).

Informed consent. (2010). In Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. Retrieved 09:01, June 12, 2010, from http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Informed_consent&oldid=367195453

In our O.T. practice it is important that we have a good understanding of ITC and the ethical issues it encompasses. As discussed earlier, IT is used in much of an O.T.’s work. When we are using IT we need a good understanding of ethical issues so that we can adhere to them and be working in a professional manner. If problems arise from using IT in an unethical manner, the quality of the treatment of which the IT is being used for may be put at jeopardy. We need to be using I.T. in an ethical manner to ensure we are providing the best service possible for our client’s and acting in a manner that agrees to the high professional expectations of those working as health professionals.