Importance of Healthcare Professionals Code of Conduct

Healthcare professionals seek to address the needs of the patients through entering
into a healthcare relationship. The healthcare relationship is governed by a set of ethical
principles and guidelines (Judson & Harrison, 2012). A professional’s code of conduct in a
healthcare organization helps specify the important aspects of this relationship. A code of
conduct in the healthcare setup promotes healthcare delivery and ensures that the core values
and beliefs of a healthcare organization are enhanced (Judson & Harrison, 2012). In addition,
adherence to a code of conduct ensures that the healthcare organization builds a strong
reputation in the market. Employees ensure that they do not violate applicable laws in
healthcare by adhering to a code of conduct.

Personal and Professional Code of Conduct

The code of conduct in the healthcare field is guided by four ethical principles,
namely autonomy, beneficence, nonmaleficence, and justice. Autonomy implies that patients
must be free to make their independent decisions (M.U.S.E, 2020). Beneficence is the
obligation of all healthcare workers to ensure that the right care is provided to the patients.
Nonmaleficence is the obligation of all healthcare workers not to do harm to patients. The
principle of justice means that all healthcare workers must give the best possible care to
healthcare workers (M.U.S.E, 2020). The following is the code of conduct founded on these
ethical principles:
Respect
All patients must be treated with respect. Respect and trust are the foundation of a
strong doctor-patient relationship. As a result, all healthcare providers must ensure that they

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treat patients with respect. Patients should be encouraged to be actively involved in the
treatment process. Patients must also be informed about their rights and responsibilities.
Policy on Harassment
There are many laws that govern employment and workplace setup. All healthcare
workers must strive to ensure that they comply with the applicable laws. The workplace
should be founded on the principles of equality. Healthcare workers should thus not
discriminate against individuals on the basis of gender, race, or religious affiliation.
Policy on Consent
Patients must be empowered to be actively involved in healthcare decisions.
Healthcare workers have a duty to ensure that they furnish patients with information that
enables them to make the right decisions. Informed consent must always be respected and
integrated into healthcare decision making. Medical procedures must be based on informed
consent, which implies that patients must be empowered to choose and make decisions that
touch on their lives. Communication with patients must also uphold the highest levels of
professionalism. Patients who are minors must also be involved in the decision-making
process. In addition, their caregivers must be involved in the treatment process.
Privacy, Confidentiality of Medical Records
The privacy of the patients has to be respected. Medical records have to be kept
private and should not be accessible to third parties. In addition, information that patients
share with the healthcare workers must be kept confidential.

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References

Judson, K., & Harrison, C. (2012). Law & ethics for the health professions. McGraw-Hill
Higher Education.
M.U.S.E. (2020). Ethics and Patient Care. CTU: Earn Your Degree at an Accredited Online
University. https://class.ctuonline.edu/_layouts/MUSEViewer/Asset.aspx?MID=18878909&a
id=18878922