In September 1997 I took a Master course in Medical Ethics at Lund University, Sweden, and ever since I have been interested in exploring how the ethical dimension is understood and practiced in physiotherapy. This interest has further made me reflect on how to stimulate professional debates, discussions and reflections on ethics in physiotherapy. Upon acquiring my master’s degree in physiotherapy I had no intention of writing a doctoral thesis, but as my curiosity evolved it seemed the right way to go. Almost nine years have passed since then, and at last this thesis has reached its final point.
For long I have been looking forward to writing these acknowledgements, as an opportunity to finally thank the amazing people I have met on my journey into the world of research. These are people who have helped me and by reading, explaining, commenting, translating, supporting or provoking have challenged the way I think about ethics in physiotherapy. On the other hand these acknowledgements are also rather difficult to write because it seems impossible to name every person who has inspired me and had an influence on my process. I deeply appreciate everyone who has supported me throughout my works.
My first and greatest thanks I send to the 21 brave and courageous men and women working as physiotherapists in Danish private practice. Without your rewarding openness, honesty, willingness and commitment this project could not have been accomplished. I will always be obliged to you. Thanks also to the many physiotherapists who throughout the process have given me insight into their understandings of ethics and physiotherapy practice: my lecturing and clinical colleagues, who generously have shared their experience and frustrations, and the many fantastic and inspiring students who always seem to have just one more question.
I am also grateful to the colleagues at hospitals, institutions, clinics, national and international conferences and elsewhere, who have listened attentively when I have attempted to convey the results of my studies. When I have seen the interest in your eyes, when you have willingly commented and discussed with me, it has encouraged me and confirmed my trust in having grasped on to something of importance, something worth continuing with.
My journey into the world of research began with a call to Professor Søren Holm, who introduced me to the ethical dimensions of healthcare practice. I will be forever grateful to you for being so generous and supportive in our discussions and for giving necessary advice whenever I needed it - and for believing that a physiotherapist also can study medical ethics.
I will like to acknowledge the deep debt of gratitude I owe to my supervisors; my principal supervisor Professor Gunvor Gard and my co-supervisor Associate Professor Stinne Glasdam. Gunvor Gard has been closely associated with my project as co-author, critic and discussion partner. Thank you for letting me benefit from your experience from the very beginning of my academic education at Lund University and for always being positive and encouraging, even at the most difficult moments of my process. I am deeply indebted to Stinne Glasdam for being there at the moment of time when I absolutely needed it the most. I am thankful for your extensive experience and unfailing drive to always take active part in countless fruitful discussions on ethics, different epistemologies, Foucault, and politics as well as family matters, and for continuously making the effort to question my work and to point out obscurities, so that my work could evolve more analytically and discussively.
In addition to my supervisors I am indebted to many others who have supported, enhanced and contributed to putting important pieces into place: Anne-Marie Wium, Pia Jørgensen, Nina Holten, Karin From Austeen, Bente Andersen, Bente Hovmand, Inger Birthe Bjørnlund, Nils-Erik Sjöberg, Anne Birgitte Østergaard, Thea Wind, Charlotte Siiger, Anette Enemark Larsen, Hanne Kaae Kristensen, Simon Sjørup Simonsen, Nina Henriksen og Klaus Jørgen Nørgaard. I thank you so much.
I have also received practical assistance from Bettina Møller and Shila Samuelsen in connection with transcribing the interviews. Thank you for assisting me. I am grateful to Anne-Marie Wium and Claus Fenger for being willing to straighten out my many shortcomings in the use of the English language. I am especially obliged to Penny Bayer for your willingness, swiftness and your tolerance even at the most critical deadlines.
I am grateful to my fellow doctoral students at the faculty of Physiotherapy, University of Lund, for inspiring discussions and great encouragement.
Discussions with you were certainly never dull. And I am grateful to all members of the informal supervision group for researching physiotherapists and occupational therapists within the qualitative field, “blue group” for valuable and essential comments on my work.
I have received financial support from The Association of Danish Physiotherapists, The Department of Physiotherapy, Metropolitan University
College (then CVU Oeresund), The Danish Rheumatism Association and University College Capital. I thank Morten Østergaard for providing the conditions for my scientific work while I was working at CVU Oeresund.
Thanks to my family for continuing to take interest in my project, and thanks especially to my mother, Mariann, Birte, Tove and Birgit for support, and for understanding that research is a passion I simply have to follow.
Finally, I am especially indebted to my closest family – to Frank, my soul mate, for continually supporting me with love and practical assistance and for loving and caring for me during my ups and downs. Despite numerous challenges we have managed to fulfil our dreams. And to you, Sapna: in the course of these past years you have become a beautiful, determined and independant woman. You have listened patiently, born over with your mother’s need to study, all the time being true to yourself and thus finding your own paths in your life.
Thanks to all of you!
Frederiksberg, April 2014 Jeanette Præstegaard