Why Moral Theories Matter: A Review of Ethics and Adoption Literature

This study argues that moral theory is an important aspect of our use of self in adoption practice. Within this context, the authors examined the extent to which ethical theories were explicitly incorporated in the peer-reviewed adoption literature - published between 1996 and 2019 - that purported to focus on ethical issues. Findings from our review suggest that the inclusion of moral theories was largely implicit (e.g., informed by relevant codes of ethics, professional standards, and/or legislation) rather than explicit. Our literature review also revealed a wide range of ethical issues in adoption. Recommendations are made in the context of these findings.