Personal
Code of Ethics
Susan M.
Ferrito, RRT
Prepared November
2002
As a healthcare provider
and educator I believe it is imperative to work and live by a set of ethical
principles. A professional is identified by certain characteristics: possesses
advanced knowledge, master of particular skills, serves the needs of others,
and conducts him/herself in a conscientious manner. Values are born during
formal and informal educational processes and continue to develop throughout
various life experiences. A code of ethics should not be constructed as a
one-time project and then stored out of sight. Rather, it should be displayed
prominently as a statement of what is valued by the
individual. As a professional
I believe it is my responsibility to provide a statement of my guiding principles
to those I serve. One of the convictions of my code of ethics is that this
is a living document, meaning it will be assessed from time to time throughout
my career to ensure its relevance and to make modifications when
necessary.
The basic tenets of my code
are:
d
Respect
d
Professionalism
d
Competence
d
Lifelong
learning
d
Teamwork
d
Objectivity
d
Confidentiality
d
Accountability
d
Service
d
Commitment
d
Communication
d
Ethical
conduct
I acknowledge the following principles to
represent my personal code of ethics.
1.
I will endeavor to protect the welfare
and respect the rights of all individuals without
discrimination.
2.
I will constantly strive to conduct
myself in a manner that demonstrates integrity and reflects positively on
the professions I represent.
3.
I am committed to maintaining proficiency
within the scopes of practice of respiratory care and adult education, completing
tasks following established professional guidelines, and making decisions
using critical thinking skills.
4.
I am dedicated to broadening my knowledge
and skill base through continuing educational activities and critical reflection
of experiences in education and healthcare to nurture my lifelong educational
journey.
5.
I will strive to promote teamwork
among colleagues, appreciating the diverse knowledge brought by each person,
and be involved in peer review processes.
6.
I will recognize the unique potential
of each learner and attempt to evaluate his or her performance in a just
and unbiased manner.
7.
I will protect the privacy of all
individuals unless in doing so may bring harm.
8.
I pledge to be dependable, to comply
with policies and procedures, and be responsible for my actions.
9.
I will promote healthcare education
in the community and serve the healthcare needs of patients of all
ages.
10.
I am committed to the professions
of respiratory care and adult education and will seek opportunities to promote
these fields.
11.
I will attempt to encourage dialogue,
seeking suggestions and constructive criticism and discuss concerns in a
professional manner.
12.
I pledge to work and live in a truthful
and honest manner and will not participate in illegal or unethical
acts.
References
American Association for Respiratory
Care.
(1994). AARC statement of ethics and professional
conduct. [On-line.] Available:
http://www.aarc.org/resources/position_statements/ethics.html
American Association for Respiratory
Care.
(1990). Role model statement.
[On-line.] Available:
http://www.aarc.org/resources/position_statements/rms.html
American Association for Respiratory
Care.
(1999). Professionalism: An AARC guide to professionalism.
[On-line.] Available:
http://www.aarc.org/resources/professionalism/slide01.html
American Medical
Association.
(1980). AMA principles of medical ethics.
[On-line.] Available:
http://www.cirp.org/library/statements/ama
Bugeja, M.
(1995).
Living Ethics.
Character Development
Foundation.
(no date available). A code
of ethics for educators. [On-line.]
Available:
http://www.charactered.org/ethicstext.htm
Hiemstra, R.
(1988). Translating personal values and philosophy into
practical action. In R.G. Brockett (Ed.), Ethical issues in adult
education.
Prepared by: Susan M.
Ferrito, RRT