Lukas Radbruch – författare

People in serious illness, crises, suffering and grief are particularly vulnerable in their reliance on the support and help of others. Therefore, all full-time and voluntary workers involved should always reflect ethically on their offers and their actions towards them in order not to "run over" them in their dependency, not to exploit them or even to enrich themselves with them. It is always important to respect the values ​​of the sick, suffering person, to respect his dignity. Practiced ethics lead to pausing in everyday life and then to systematic, discursive reflection on the often opposing values ​​of care and autonomy. Doing no additional damage to sufferers should be taken for granted, but everyone knows counterexamples. Special ethical challenges arise in the treatment and support of suffering people with regard to fairness in the distribution of resources, for example with people from other cultures, with seriously ill people whose hope is to be supported without senseless (possibly self-paid) treatment attempts, as well in observing the wishes of the dying. And how does the volunteer companion deal with cross-border behavior in interaction? What ethical considerations are important when advising believers of other religions? This booklet is dedicated to the importance of ethics in counseling, support and treatment of suffering people.

This thread-themed issue deals with the other, the strange, the astonishing, with that which fascinates, frightens, repels or provokes. Unusual life plans, idiosyncratic values and different orientations are reported. It's about the fear of the stranger and questions about one's own identity. The readers get to know culturally sensitive projects and take part in practical experience in accompanying people with livelihoods, foreign experiences and alienating behaviors. In short: Leidfaden tracks down what is common in the foreign and what is foreign in the common.