[Ethics of assertive outreach: a case study].

BACKGROUND Caregivers need an ethical compass to find a way in assertive outreach. AIM To develop an ethical framework of gradual care. METHOD Using a case study, the ethical framework of gradual care is presented and applied. RESULTS The starting point is a relational view of the human being. Consequently, a first condition is that caregivers build up a relationship of trust with the client. At the same time, they assess the decision-making capacity, i.e. the ability to take responsibility for a specific choice. The option for a particular gradation of assertive care depends on the degree of decision-making capacity. The extreme form of care on the continuum is coercion. As this is the least obvious form of assertive outreach, caregivers apply additional criteria. In the case study we illustrate the ten degrees of assertive outreach. The caregivers always try to empower the client to take responsibility for a particular choice. CONCLUSION This ethical view of assertive outreach is an addition to the legal framework and serves as an ethical reference for caregivers to draw up and apply a more refined and nuanced care plan.