Ethics and Professionalism Concepts in Healthcare

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Introduction

Ethics is a very important concept in the field of healthcare and medicine. In the course of the week, the concepts we learned include ethics and professionalism as undertaken in various regions of the world. Moreover, the study covered various codes provided by different healthcare associations of the world and methods used by medical practitioners to execute them. Some of the major ethical procedures comprised the Helsinki Declaration, Geneva Declaration, Pellegrino Precepts, and Hippocratic Code of Ethics. Australian Code of Ethics on Midwifery, nursing practices in the United Arab Emirates as well as professionalism among Australian medical practitioners comprise the main ethics covered during the study. Therefore, the essay reviews the concept of ethics and professionalism discussed during the study.

Evolution of Health Profession & Professionalism in Healthcare

The first providers of healthcare services, so to speak, were shamans who knew the qualities and effects of various herbs. They also claimed to use the power of spirits to heal people. Later, religious leaders appeared and they also claimed to be the tools in God’s healing hands. Of course, ethical issues were hardly put to the fore at that period.

At present, healthcare professionals comply with various regulations including ethical codes and practices. Thus, professionalism includes certain knowledge, experience, skills, and ability to apply ethical considerations, which are regarded as an integral part of healthcare services.

Helsinki & Geneva Declaration, Pellegrino Precepts, and Hippocratic Code of Ethics

Helsinki and Geneva declarations are imperative in the study of ethics in healthcare. Apparently, Helsinki Declaration focuses on the unlawful use of human beings as objects of experiments. The declaration prohibits any use of individuals in experiments that endanger their lives and demean their dignities and personalities (Foster and Lasser 45). Conversely, Geneva Declaration highlights that doctors and medical practitioners should exercise high levels of professionalism when treating or counseling individuals.

Pellegrino Precepts state that healthcare practitioners need to exercise professionalism in all of their activities. In essence, medical practitioners need to respect the values, beliefs, and autonomy of patients at all times. The Hippocratic Code of Ethics highlights that medical practitioners or physicians need wisdom in their practice. Although the Hippocratic Code of Ethics provides a range of ethical procedures, it has limitations, which include absence of patients’ autonomy and limited protection of patients from undue external influences.

Code of Ethics in Australia and the UAE

Another field of healthcare that requires professionalism and ethical practices in the area concerns midwifery. The code of ethics produced by midwives in Australia elaborates on the importance of respecting the dignity and integrity of a woman and the concerned individuals. Besides acting as a reference point for midwives, the codes of ethics ensure that patients receive high-quality treatment from midwives and other practitioners. The code also encourages midwives to understand that care and treatment extend beyond the patients and incorporate the entire society, family, and individuals.

In the United Arab Emirates (UAE), midwives exercise professionalism and ethics in a number of ways. According to Foster and Lasser, some of the guiding principles that govern the procedures executed by midwives include honesty, care, integrity, and adherence to legal practices (7). As a result, midwives deliver services that are superior to their patients. Evidently, the objective designed by the medical practitioners in their quest to promote and improve the quality of services delivered by midwives is achievable through adherence to the provisions stipulated by the code of ethics. Moreover, the code minimizes instances where midwives engage in illegal or unlawful practices.

Ethics and Professionalism in AIR and Dubai, Tavistock Principles, Ethics, and Terror

Australian Institute of Radiography (AIR) designed a code of ethics that encourages professionalism and ethical practices amongst the practitioners in the field of radiography. Some of the main components that the code outlines include confidentiality, honesty, and respect for patients’ values and principles. In Dubai, medical practitioners understand that patients require equal treatment regardless of their race, gender, and ethnic background.

Other important ethical factors covered during the week include Tavistock Principles as well as ethics and terror. Apparently, Tavistock Principles emphasize on application of ethical values such as confidentiality, honesty, safety, openness, and comprehensiveness in healthcare. The aspect of ethics and terror highlight the increasing instances of physicians participating in acts of torture. Notably, the codes of ethics that govern the professionalism and conduct of medical practitioners prohibit any engagements in acts of torture or violence. Practitioners need to abstain from any acts of torture or violence since it is against their code of ethics and professionalism.

Summary of the Article Used

The materials discussed during the week provided me with valuable insights into various aspects of the issue. I was especially interested in the use of ethics in research. I believe research is the key to development and it can be difficult to follow ethical considerations when conducting this or that experiment or even survey. I implemented brief research on ways researchers (especially in the field of oral healthcare) follow ethical codes. In developed countries, these codes play an important role, and practitioners, as well as students and researchers, follow the codes. I was glad to learn about the use of ethical codes in such regions as India. According to Deolia et al., Indian researchers, students as well as practitioners have the necessary understanding of the benefits of the use of ethical codes in their practice (11). More so, they have certain knowledge on major aspects of ethics and ethical study. Thus, it has been found that 43.3% of participants were knowledgeable in the field of ethics while 82.5% of samples agreed that it was beneficial to utilize ethical considerations in their practice and research (Deolia et al. 12). Nonetheless, it is also clear that Indian students, practitioners, and researchers fail to fully comply with ethical codes as only 46.37% of participants reveal ethical behavior (Deolia et al. 11). Therefore, it is obvious that healthcare practitioners in different regions of the world have to be trained to behave in an ethical way especially when it comes to research where ethics can help ensure safety of patients and respect for their rights. Understanding the need to utilize ethical principles does not translate into their effective use and, hence, it is essential to pay more attention to the field of research in healthcare.

Contribution of the Study to My Career

The issues outlined in the study are very important in my dentistry career. Remarkably, the study explains the professionalism requirements that I can successfully employ and use in order to deliver the best to my clients. Some of the codes provided are very instrumental not only in other fields but also in my career. Therefore, the issues outlined in the article are very important in my career as well as in other sectors within and outside the medical field.

In conclusion, I would like to add that ethics and professionalism are paramount in all my practices and interactions with patients and individuals, who need counseling services. Using the ethical procedures that the code of ethics provides, dentists, doctors, and other individuals in the field of healthcare delivery services have minimal illegal or unlawful practices. Therefore, the role of ethics in healthcare is essential in my field of dentistry as well as in other fields of healthcare.

Works Cited

Deolia, Shravani G., K.V.V. Prasad, Kumar Gaurav Chhabra, Ramya Kalyanpur and Shrivardhan Kalghatgi. “An Insight into Research Ethics among Dental Professionals in a Dental Institute, India – A Pilot Study.” Journal of Clinical and Diagnostic Research 8.9 (2014): 11-14. Web.

Foster, Illysa R., and Jon Lasser. Professional Ethics in Midwifery Practice. Sudbury, MA: Jones and Bartlett Learning, 2010. Print.

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