Every workplace needs to observe ethical behavior according to industry standards to ensure successful relations between company workers, their clients and the community. To guide ethical behavior internally and externally, organizations observe professional standards which also clarify the company’s mission, principles and values. The set code of conduct complies with legislation requirement of implementing codes or gives clear explanation why they haven’t, helps in marketing the company’s commitment to high standards of practice and reduces or avoids government fines for ethical misconduct (Ethics Resource Center, 1990). The healthcare industry also has code of professional conduct to guide interactions with patients, work mates, students, other health professionals and the public.
The code of professional conduct consists of a series of principles that guide professional interactions to help an organization achieve excellence. According to the Health Care Compliance Association, (NA), the staff (medical staff, contracted workers, instructors, volunteers and students) has professional obligations as outlined below.
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To offer services in a safe and ethical manner
Health care workers should only provide services within their training and experience and observe limitations of treatment they can offer to ensure patients are not exposed to harm.
Obtain consent of patient
Prior to commencing diagnostic tests or therapies, a health worker should seek consent of a patient and respect the patient’s right to stop the procedure. Failure to obtain patient’s consent puts a health worker in risk of legal liability in event of complications even if his/her negligence did not attribute to the adverse outcome.
Respect patients
A health care worker is required to handle patients with a high degree of respect, kindness, dignity and gentleness. A health care worker must not harass others physically, psychologically, verbally, or sexually, neither should he/she discriminate any patient on basis of race, religion, age, disability, sex or sexual orientation (Health Care Compliance Association, NA).
Respect patient confidentiality
This clause requires health workers to respect patient’s privacy by not sharing their medical information with anyone apart from authorized health care professionals.
Honesty and integrity
Being truthful both verbally and in print is another principle health care workers must observe in the workplace. They are required to maintain honest, accurate information of patient care records by correcting, amending and updating entries. They should also strictly observe the required standards in the industry.
Avoid Conflict of interest
Medical practitioners must resolve clinical conflicts of interest to favor the patient and are not required to accept incentives from patients or contracted workers/companies while on duty. They are also not allowed to refer patients to medical labs or other health care facilities for their financial gain.
Take appropriate action in case of adverse events
In event of adversity, medical practitioners must take appropriate and timely action to minimize danger of patients and the risk or recurrence. They must also report the adverse event.
Respect business ethics
Health workers must not misinform patients on any product and services offered and should only charge patients for only clinical services offered.
Not to use alcohol or any unlawful substance on duty
Health workers are not allowed to offer clinical services while under the influence of alcohol and other unlawful substances. Additional, a medical worker who is under medication should seek advice from a professional before offering in services. Failure of observing this principle increases probability of wrong diagnosis and other complications hence risk of legal liability (Riddick, 2003).
Health care workers who strictly observe these professional standards and others are most likely to excel professionally. This will not only help the medical practitioner but also the institution, patients, other health professionals and the public they have come in contact with.
References
Ethics Resource Center. (1990). Creating a Workable Code of Ethics: The Tool that Helps you Develop and Implement Codes of Ethical Business Conduct or Revise Existing Standards and Policies . Retrieved from https://books.google.co.ke/books/about/Creating_a_Workable_Company_Code_of_Ethi.html?id=KMCiHAAACAAJ&redir_esc=y
Health Care Compliance Association. (NA). Code of Ethics for Health Care Compliance Professionals . Retrieved from https://www.hcca-info.org/Portals/0/PDFs/Resources/HCCACodeOfEthics.pdf
Riddick, A. (2003). The Code of Medical Ethics of the American Medical Association . Retrieved from https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3399321/
