The Ethics of Overlapping Relationships in Rural and Remote Healthcare

Course overview

Course Description: This course is based on material published in BMC Medical Ethics and is available as an open-access article. This course explores the ethical complexities and practical realities of overlapping (dual/multiple) relationships in rural and remote healthcare settings. Participants will examine how traditional, urban-centric ethics may be inadequate in addressing rural challenges and how a contextual, reflective model can support safe and ethical practice. Through narrative insights, theoretical frameworks, and a decision-making schema, healthcare professionals will learn to navigate overlapping relationships that arise from living and working in close-knit communities. The course emphasizes maintaining therapeutic integrity, patient trust, and professional well-being. Authors: Szumer and Arnold Learning Objectives: This course will provide the practitioner with detailed information regarding ethical challenges in mental health care. Specifically, a professional will: Identify the ethical challenges and contextual factors contributing to overlapping relationships in rural and remote healthcare. Evaluate different models and theoretical approaches to managing dual relationships in rural practice. Describe the use of the ARAAR (Acknowledge, Recognize, Assess, Act, Reflect) schema to assess and respond to ethical dilemmas related to professional boundaries. Citation: R. Szumer R. and M. Arnold, (2023), the ethics of overlapping relationships in rural and remote healthcare. A narrative review. Bioethical Inquiry 20: 181-190.