respect for autonomy and confidentiality, Between“ethical norms” and “local morality”. an anthropologicalanalysis of ethics of care in st lucia

Abstract

this article considers the difficulty of applying ethical norms as part of ananthropological research on moralities and ethics of healing practices in St.Lucia (Caribbean). this reflection is based on the moral evaluations related toobeah, locally conceived as a set of magical, religious and witchcraft practicesthat helps to manage disease and misfortune. through the analysis of localconceptions surrounding the ethical notions of autonomy and confidentiality, icall attention to potential nuisance caused by the application of principles ofbeneficence and respect for the individual. indeed, local idioms that are moraldiscretion and self-sufficiency, which can respectively refer to the concepts ofautonomy and confidentiality, are, paradoxically, both valued and likely to beassociated with dubious morality. i will demonstrate that the fact of applyingthese principles in all ethnographic relationship may harm interlocutors byincreasing, in the case of St. Lucia, the risk of witchcraft accusations andderogatory moral attributions. the anthropological field experience presentedhere questions the principles of beneficence and respect for the individual asdefined in the field of research ethics; it also imposes the need to think abouttheir adaptation to suit local representations. this leads to recommend apragmatic and emerging ethics of anthropological research/practice.