Professional Ethics

Professional Ethics Advance To Next Lesson Personal Traits

NOTE: Continue only after having read this and the previous lessons!

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Professional Ethics

Lesson 4: The word ethics is derived from the Greek "ethos," meaning custom or practice, a characteristic manner of acting, or a more-or-less constant style of behavior in the deliberate actions of people. When we speak of ethics, we refer to a set of rules or a body of principles.

Every social, religious, and professional group has a body of principles or standards of conduct that provides ethical guidance to its members.

Lesson 4

Every physician takes the Hippocratic Oath as a code of conduct that serves as an ethical guide. This pledge morally binds them to certain responsibilities and rules that are included in the science of medical ethics. Ethics, whether they are classified as general or special (e.g., legal or medical), teach us how to accurately judge the moral rightness and wrongness of our actions.

All professional interactions must be directly related to codes of behavior that support the principles of justice, equality of human beings as persons, and respect for the dignity of human beings. Upholding medical ethics is not only the responsibility of all physicians but also nurses, medical assistants, and every other member of the healthcare team.

Here is an (unofficial) pledge for medical assistants: I solemnly pledge myself before God and these witnesses to practice faithfully all of my duties as a member of the professional healthcare team. I hold the care of the sick, and injured to be a privilege and a sacred trust, and will assist the physician with loyalty and honesty. I will hold all personal matters pertaining to the private lives of patients in strict confidence. I dedicate my heart, mind, and strength to the work before me. I shall do all within my power to show in myself an example of all that is honorable and good throughout my medical assistant career.

The Moral Rule to Do Their Duty

The one element that makes healthcare ethics different from general ethics is the inclusion of the moral rule, to "Do their duty." This statement is a moral rule because it involves expectations (e.g., of confidentiality). It involves what others have every reason to believe will be forthcoming. Failure to fulfill these expectations is to do harm to their patients (i.e. clients) and/or their colleagues.

Through the medical assistant pledge, medical assistants commit themselves to fulfilling certain duties, not only to those entrusted to their care, but also to all members of the healthcare team. It is this commitment to service and to humankind that has traditionally distinguished medical assistants at their various jobs.

Suggested Activities!

Links:

Visit: 1. Original Hippocratic Oath

Visit: 2. New Hippocratic Oath

Medical Assistant Forum:

Discuss: Hippocratic Oath for Medical Assistants