Professional Ethics for Medical Imaging Personnel

Explain the ethics of the radiologic and imaging science professions.

Rules of conduct or standards by which the radiologic and imaging science professions regulates their actions and sets standards for its members. The system of ethics is closely related and overlaps two other systems designed to control society: law and morals.

Differentiate the systems of ethics, law, and morals

Ethics: Specific group | Within group | Codes of ethics | Expulsion

Law: Political subdivision | Outside group | Legislation | Fines; Prison

Morals: Individuals | Conscience | Religious writing |Shame; Guilt

Explain the four-step problem-solving process of ethical analysis

1. Identifying the problem

2. Developing alternative solutions

3. Selecting the best solution

4. Defending the selection

Explain two sources of moral judgement that underline ethical decision making

Consequentialism: evaluates the rightness or wrongness of ethical decisions by assessing the consequences of these decisions on the patient.

Non-consequentialism: holds that other right-making characterizations of our actions beyond consequences exist and must be examined to determine whether a given behavior is right or wrong.

Identify moral dilemmas encountered in patient relationships

maintaining patient faithfulness, maintaining patient confidentiality, and preserving professional boundaries

Identify moral dilemmas encountered in physician relationships.

observing professional discretion in your relationships with physicians, recognizing your professional limitations in practice, and balancing the safety and needs of the patient with physician demands

Identify moral dilemmas encountered in relationships with other health professionals

Reporting unethical conduct of others and dealing with mistakes appropriately

Recognize values associated with ethical decision making in the practice of the radiologic and imaging sciences professions

Beneficence (bringing about good)

Nonmaleficence (preventing harm)

Autonomy (acting with personal self-interest)

Veracity (telling the truth)

Fidelity (being faithful)

Justice (acting with fairness or equity)

Apply critical analysis to ethical decision making

Ethical decision making should be a result of an evaluation of all moral principles in order to come to a reasonable conclusion or action for the benefit of the patient.