Healthcare Ethics

What Healthcare Professionals Should Do

• Hold as their primary responsibility the health, safety, welfare, and dignity of all human beings.
• Uphold the tenets of patient autonomy, beneficence, and justice.
• Hold in strict confidence information obtained through employment unless legally authorized or required by responsible performance of duty to divulge such information.
• Actively seek to expand their knowledge and skills, keeping abreast of advances in medicine.
• Use their knowledge and experience to contribute to an improved community.
• Respect their professional relationship with all members of the healthcare team.
• Respect the culture, values, beliefs, and expectations of the patient and family caregiver.
• Not discriminate against classes or categories of patients in the delivery of needed healthcare.
• Disclose to his or her supervisor information about errors made in the course of caring for a patient.
• Place service to patients before personal material gain and should avoid undue influence on their judgment.
• Not misrepresent directly or indirectly, their skills, training, professional credentials, or identity.
• Not become sexually involved with patients or engage in, or condone, any form of sexual harassment.
• Seek professional help if suffering from issues of addiction or substance abuse and should not engage in patient care while symptomatic or until cleared by treating professional.