Controversial issues: a case for neutrality?

Controversial issues are defined, in this discussion, as those in relation to which contrary views can be held without those views being contrary to r eason. Such issues arise in the range of courses constituting nurse educati on, especially, but not exclusively, where ethical questions are discussed. The nurse educator may, therefore, have to decide whether or not to say wh at she thinks, in particular she may have to decide whether or not to asser t her own view as correct. Where professional beliefs and values are involv ed, to assert a view as correct may seem to be required. Might this, though , detract from the aim of developing students' capacity for autonomous refl ection? The discussion assesses whether neutrality, in the sense either of not stating one's view or not asserting it as correct, is desirable, by exa mining arguments both for and against, and highlights ways in which a neutr al stance both is, and is not, an option.