ETHICS AND HANDICAP

The deprivation of numerous possibilities suffered by the severely-han dicapped on account of their somato-psychic deficiency extends to many areas : mobility, relationships, autonomy in their everyday life, dep endency, psychological or even mental consequences. The most elementar y ethics would require to take all these deprivations into account, no t just in the choice of accomodation structures but also in the behavi our of relatives and friends, or of qualified members of staff, in the ir approach to the handicapped. The range of application of these ethi cal rules must therefore extend from the quality of life and assistanc e, and the concern for efficiency of interventions, to the problems of security and securization, the assessment and the prevention of risks deriving from the handicap or its consequences, through the informati on of the patients regarding their elementary or specific rights, the introduction of the most favourable basis in order to make sure that t hey enjoy the dignity due to any human being, whatever his condition. Such a vast program requires a great many means of action, which all i mply the recourse to the appropriate material and human assistance.