[MTLE] Unit 13: Professional Ethics and Professional Conduct

Professional Ethics

includes all standards of behavior in:

• in one's personal life

• in one's occupation

• in the workplace

Sound Moral and Ethics Principles

Professional ethics is based on

Professional Code of ethics

cover personal and corporate standards of behavior expected from and by a professional.

how professionals are to pursue their common ideals and to protect each professional from certain pressures.

Professional Code of Ethics

provides professionals a clear set of obligations based on tradition, society's expectations, contracts, laws, and rules of ordinary morality.

informs the professionals about their obligations to their employers, clients, customers, other professionals, the profession itself, and the society in general.

Good reason and Judgment

Medical technologists do not only know how to perform laboratory procedures and analyses but perform their work based on ____________

True

T/F:

Professional Codes of Ethics differ from every profession

Main objectives of professional ethics

1. To define professional privileges, behaviors and responsibilities towards the members of the community in general.

2. To promote professional quality, professional conduct and a moral method of procedures.

3. To defend private professions from undue interference by the government or by other agencies.

4. To preserve the dignity of the profession and the confidence of the public.

5. To defend clients from unscrupulous individuals.

6. To fix certain standards of the compensations for services or work.

Code of Conduct

Refers to the actions to the code of ethics

serve to apply the codes of ethics to particular and relevant situations

lists of guidelines or conditions

Code of Conduct

are official documents that clearly define how a professional or a company employee should behave in the workplace on a daily basis.

Code of Conduct

Example: Hair, Uniform, Breaktimes

Code of Conduct

Builds confidence

provides greater transparency and certainty

provide common understanding of acceptable practice

General Principles of Professional Conduct

Lifted from the Philippine Professional Regulation Commission

1) Ethical Commitment

2) Ethical awareness

3) Ethical Competency

Ethical Commitment

a personal resolve to act ethically

Ethical Awareness

know what is right or wrong

Ethical Competency

ability to engage in sound moral reasoning and consider carefully the implications of alternative actions (considering other actions)

Ethical Awareness

involves recognizing the ethical implications of actions and is the first step in moral action.

This means that one must first recognize the potential ethical repercussions of their actions in order to effectively resolve problems and address patient needs.

Ethical Commitment

Principles and values that govern our relations with our others

Ethical Competency

ethical problems appear as ethical challenges, conflicts, or dilemmas

Addressing these problems requires ________ that involve the ethical dimensions of sensitivity, knowledge, reflection, decision making, action, and behaviour.

Ethical Competence

contain components such as:

• capability to identify ethical problems

• knowledge about the ethical and moral aspects of care

• reflection on one's own knowledge and actions

• ability to make wise choices

• manage ethically challenging work situations.

Principles of Professional Conduct

Lifted from the Philippine Professional Regulation Commission

[GENERAL]

1) Solidarity and Teamwork

2) Social and Civic Responsibility

3) Global Competitiveness

4) Equality of All Professionals

[SPECIFIC]

4) Service to Others

5) Integrity and Objectivity

6) Professional Competence

Solidarity and Teamwork

Professionals should put the broader interest of the profession above one's personal ambition and preference

Social and Civic Responsibility

Professionals shall always carry out their professional duties with due consideration of the broader interest of the public

Global Competitiveness

Professionals shall remain open to challenges of a more dynamic interconnected world

Equality of All Professions

Professionals shall treat their colleagues with respect and shall strive to be fair in their dealings with one another

Service to Others

Professionals are committed to a life of service to others

Integrity and Objectivity

Professionals shall perform their responsibilities with the highest sense of integrity and imbued with nationalism and spiritual values

Professional Competence

Professionals shall, therefore, undertake only those professional services that they can reasonably deliver with professional competence

Code of Good Governance for the Professions in the Philippines

EO 220: DIRECTING THE ADOPTION OF THE CODE OF GOOD GOVERNANCE FOR THE PROFESSIONS IN THE PHILIPPINES

pursuant to Section 14, Article XII of the Constitution,

"the sustained development of a reservoir of national talents consisting of Filipino scientist xxx professionals xxx high-level technical manpower xxx shall be promoted by the State.";

(underscoring supplied)

WHEREAS, good governance is one pillar of a strong republic; by virtue of the provisions of Section 5 and 7(a) of Republic Act No. 8981, otherwise known as the PRC Modernization Act of 2000, the Professional Regulation Commission (PRC), hereinafter called the Commission, is empowered to adopt policies, such as professional standards and principles designed to enhance and maintain high professional, technical, and ethical standards in the practice of the professions;

the adoption of the Code of Good Governance will promote and establish ethical awareness and competency among Filipino professionals to make them accountable to their public liability and fully fulfill their professional obligation to their clients; and;

WHEREAS, the Code will empower professionals not only to upgrade or improve their technical and ethical proficiency but also to keep them abreast with modern trends and technology in their respective professions, thereby assuring the high quality and globally-competitive professional services, and secure the safety and protection of the public.

RA 8981 (PRC Modernization Act of 2000)

Empower the Professional Regulation Commission (PRC) through RA ______

EO 220

DIRECTING THE ADOPTION OF THE CODE OF GOOD GOVERNANCE FOR THE PROFESSIONS IN THE PHILIPPINES

Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo

Who signed the EO 220: The Code of Good Governance for the professions in the Philippines

All registered professionals

The code of Good governance shall be adopted by who

The Governance Advisory Council

and

Professional Regulation Commission (PRC)

hereby directed to undertake measures, including networking with government agencies and civil society, to effectively implement and enforce the Code through the Professional Regulatory Boards (PRBs) under the Commission's supervision and control.

Code of Ethics

describes the expected ethical obligations and principles that patients, the profession and the public believe.

Code of Ethics

It guides the professional and personal conduct of all medical technologists who must adhere not only to the guidelines, but also to the underlying spirit and precepts

Ethical Consideration in ISO 15189

"Medical laboratories Requirements for quality and competence"

Ethical Consideration in ISO 15189

• there should not be participation in any activities that would diminish confidence in the laboratory's competence, impartiality, judgment or operational integrity;

> Confidence in Lab

• management and personnel are free from any undue commercial, financial, or other pressure and influences that may adversely affect the quality of work;

> Free from external pressure

• where potential conflicts in competing interests exist, they shall be openly and appropriately declared;

> declaration of conflict of interests

• there are appropriate procedures to ensure that staff treat human samples, tissues or remains according to relevant legal requirements;

> Samples for legal process

• confidentiality of information is maintained.

Ethical Consideration in AACC

Principles of Ethical Conduct for Laboratories

• to be honest in all professional accomplishments, and retain the high level of personal veracity;

• need to avoid any scientific or professional delinquency;

• should report any professional that is degrading the standards of laboratory and professionalism that would affect patients care;

• to maintain high quality reagents, equipments and consumables. Also, they must confirm the reliability of test reports and quality of confidentiality of reports;

• respect the privacy and confidentiality of protected health information;

• continuously endeavour to augment the professional qualifications, knowledge, and skills, and present them accurately;

• encourages the safety of patients, staff and the environment;

• must disclose the actual conflicts of interests;

• encourage open and honest discussion among physicians, other healthcare providers and/or facility managers;

• fulfill the appropriate laws and pursue to change whenever they seem contrary to patient's interests

Internal Federation of Biomedical Laboratory Science (IFBLS)

• maintain strict confidentiality of patient information and test results; safeguard the dignity and privacy of patients

• be accountable for the quality and integrity of clinical laboratory services being provided

American Society of Clinical Pathologists (ASCP)

• treat patients and colleagues with respect, care and thoughtfulness;

• perform duties in an accurate, precise, timely and responsible manner;

• safeguard patient information as confidential, within the limits of the law.

Ethics in Laboratory Medicine: An Overview of Considerations for Ethical Issues

By Neerja Aggarwal, Pawan Kumar Kare and Sudip Kumar Datta

Submitted: July 9th 2020 Reviewed: January 20th 2021Published: February 4th 2021

DOI: 10.5772/intechopen.96122

Pre-analytical Phase

Informed consent

All tests benefit to the patient

Access to all tests at reasonable cost

Analytical Phase

Right to decline specimen examined.

Best possible analytical result to patient.

No discrimination in examination of patients sample on the basis of gender, age or race.

Post-analytical Phase

Reporting and interpretation of results

Residual specimen

Data access

Ethical Issues during the Pre-analytical Phase

Phase of Laboratory:

RESPECT FOR PERSONS: Consent, proper identification of the patient with respect to the test/s requested, proper collection, labelling, handling of samples, performance of tests

BENEFICENCE: tests must benefit the patient, any adverse event must be managed, collection should follow universally recommended precautions, additional samples - informed, protect integrity of sample

JUSTICE: reasonable cost, no preferential treatment

PRE-A:

Respect for Persons

Consent, proper identification of the patient with respect to the test/s requested, proper collection, labelling, handling of samples, performance of tests

PRE-A:

Beneficence

tests must benefit the patient, any adverse event must be managed, collection should follow universally recommended precautions, additional samples - informed, protect integrity of sample

ETHICAL ISSUES DURING THE ANALYTICAL PHASE

• RESPECT FOR PERSONS: even after collection, patient may refuse to have their specimen examined, confidentiality

• BENEFICENCE: maintain GLP (quality assurance, use of control, proficiency testing, sample integrity) and high protessional standards (qualification and competency)

• JUSTICE: no discrimination, guidelines for STAT testing, analvzed correctlv in a timely routine

Analytical:

Respect for Others

even after collection, patient may refuse to have their specimen examined, confidentiality

Analytical:

Beneficence

maintain GLP (quality assurance, use of control, proficiency testing, sample integrity) and high professional standards (qualification and competency) Respect for Persons

Analytical:

Justice

no discrimination, guidelines for STAT testing, analyzed correctly in a timely routine

ETHICAL ISSUES DURING THE POST-ANALYTICAL PHASE

RESPECT FOR PERSONS: specimen will not be used beyond test prescribed, recipient of result, access to laboratory data

BENEFICENCE: result misinterpretation, suitable reference guide

JUSTICE: reporting must be consistent in all patients, not disclosing result due to payment, storage of residual samples

POST-A:

Respect for persons

specimen will not be used beyond test prescribed, recipient of result, access to laboratory data

POST-A:

Beneficence

result misinterpretation, suitable reference guide

POST-A:

Justice

reporting must be consistent in all patients, not disclosing result due to payment, storage of residual samples

Ethics in Laboratory Medicine: An Overview of Considerations for Ethical Issues

• Necessary to incorporate principles and guidelines of bioethics and Professional ethics in laboratory medicine

• Uphold the reputation and dignity of the profession

• Ethics training program

Code of Ethics of Medical Technologists

AS I ENTER THE PRACTICE OF MEDICAL TECHNOLOGY, I SHALL:

Accept the responsibilities inherent to being a professional.

Uphold the law and shall not participate in illegal

Act in a spirit of fairness to all and in a spirit of brotherhood toward other members of the profession.

Accept employment from more than one employer only when there is no conflict of interest.

Perform my task with full confidence, absolute reliability, and accuracy.

Share my knowledge and expertise with my colleagues.

Contribute to the advancement of the professional organization and other allied health organizations.

Restrict my praises, criticisms, views, and opinions within constructive limits.

Treat any information I acquired in the course of my work as strictly confidential.

Uphold the dignity and respect of my profession and conduct myself a reputation of reliability, honesty, and integrity.

Be dedicated to the use of clinical laboratory science to promote life and benefit mankind.

Report any violations of the above principles of the professional conduct to authorized agency and to the ethics committee of the organization.