The Ethics of Hunger
Summary
In Clancy Cash Harrison’s The Ethics of Hunger presentation, it is clear that hunger is not just a scenario of inadequate food or lack of food; it is something more. Harrison claims that it is unethical to address hunger without asking the right questions. For example, it is unethical to provide medical nutrition therapy or awareness before identifying the food insecurity situation. She outlines the principles and standards that ensure the right code of ethics is upheld when dealing with hunger. Nutritionists should fairly assess the validity and the applicability of the scientific evidence. They should also make decisions based on the evidence provided respecting and caring for their patients. Nutrition professionals should comprehend the influence culture and moral beliefs have on people to help them anticipate and manage their clients. There are several causes of food insecurity, but most of the are situational; they occur as a result of the change.
Harrison is overly trying to express the point that hunger crisis should be handled ethically. She digs deeper into how food insecurity should be figured out discussing its symptoms, costs and risk factors that rise up as a result of neglecting the epidemic. Hunger is an epidemic that is likely to cause chronic medical conditions. For example, sixty percent of the American population who suffer from chronic medical conditions lack or struggled to afford food, healthcare services, housing utilities; at least one basic need. Food insecurity is a problem that leads to stress due to poor nutrition intake, poor eating behavior, poor sleep cycles that are the “building blocks” of most chronic medical problems. Less affected people participate in food assistance programs. This is because of stigma, unawareness, and most people do not reach the set terms and conditions for qualification. Harrison shares the essential techniques that should be adopted when screen patients, patients care and adaptive mechanisms when dealing with stigmatized food insecurity patients.
Reaction
The main focus of food security directives is the production and consumption of enough calories; which is never enough. It is time that the respective parties look deep into the matter. These are the dietitians and nutrition professionals. Critical ethical concerns have been left out during the process of making the nutritional/food insecurity societal decisions. There exist ethical trade-offs in the dietary goals and food insecurity. A tractable deliberation into food insecurity ethics is needed to end the iniquities. Food security directives predominantly aim at producing and consuming of food than the right channels of addressing hunger. This is the time nutrition professionals should consider adopting ethical nutrition decision making when making food insecurity decisions. Understanding the most vulnerable people in need of food based on evidence collected should be a consideration when addressing food insecurity. Making evidence-based practise decision should also entail patient’s unique values and circumstances combined with nutritionists’ expertise.
Screening patients with sensitivity requires keen code of ethics because this is a personal space a professional is about to intrude. Therefore, building a rapport is essential because it helps in winning a client’s trust hence creating a good relationship. Nutritionists should also observe and respect personal boundaries when handling clients. Nutrition professionals should get ahead and manage possible outcomes and actions of people they deal with. They should also understand the connection between hunger and obesity. Therefore, hunger is an ethical epidemic that should be addressed ethically, just as Harrison discusses it in her presentation. Nutrition professionals have the responsibility to create strategic plans to help stop the congestive heart failures, osteoporosis, reduced cognitive functioning and other dire consequences brought about by food insecurity.