PCN 520 Discussion 1 Latest July 2016

Complete Self-Inventory of Ethical Behaviors. Select the five behaviors that you consider to be the most serious violations of ethical practice. What are the reasons for your selection of these behaviors? Explain.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION 

Behaviors considered serious violations of ethical practice

Introduction

The healthcare industry has a rich history of ethical practices. In fact, it has been the focus of some of the most important legislative and regulatory efforts in recent years. The goal of these rules is to protect patients, doctors, nurses and other healthcare professionals from unethical behavior that could result in harm or death.

Ethical practice is a core value of the healthcare industry and is a fundamental principle of serious consequences.

Ethical practice is a core value of the healthcare industry and is a fundamental principle of serious consequences.

• When you see something that makes you uncomfortable or upset, speak up. If you have concerns about your work environment or patient care, talk to management about them so they can be addressed appropriately.

• Be honest with yourself when making decisions in your personal life; if someone asks for information from you that would compromise your professional judgment, don’t give it away unless absolutely necessary (for example: if there’s an open investigation).

Loss of license

If you lose your license, it’s revoked. This means you can’t practice medicine or hold yourself out as a doctor anywhere in the United States. You also may not be able to work in another state if it requires a license from that state.

You could lose your license for any of the following reasons:

• Violating a law governing medical practice (e.g., failure to pay taxes)

• Engaging in sexual activity with patients or other healthcare professionals who are under 18 years old

• Bodily misconduct such as assault, battery or neglecting patient safety while providing care

Loss of employment

Losing a job can be devastating. It can mean life-changing, financially devastating and socially devastating.

Losing a job is not something to take lightly. In fact, it takes some time to recover from the loss of your employment. You may also have trouble finding another position that you are qualified for and will enjoy in the future.

Legal action

If you’re accused of a serious violation, it’s important to understand that legal action can result in fines and imprisonment. It is also common for licensees to lose their licenses as a consequence of being found guilty. Censure by the state board may be imposed on those who are convicted of any non-criminal violation, including those deemed “serious,” or those that harm or endanger patients’ health.[11]

Censure by the state board

Censure by the state board

The state board can impose censure on an attorney who has been found to have engaged in unethical conduct, including:

• Violating the rules of professional conduct; failing to keep client files confidential, or other violations of law.

• Engaging in fraud or deceit while representing someone else’s interests.

• Violating any part of the Rules Regulating The Practice Of Law (the “Rules”) that applies to lawyers and their clients, such as those related to conflicts between employment and private practice duties, providing legal advice without supervision from another lawyer representing the same client at different times during a case or proceeding (e.g., divorce proceedings), working for unlicensed firms; engaging in dishonesty or deceitful activity toward another person with whom you are involved legally (e.g., lying about finances); making false statements under oath during litigation proceedings; violating court orders prohibiting contact with certain individuals concerning ongoing legal matters such as child custody issues).

Imprisonment

Imprisonment is a rare result of ethical violations. It’s not something you should expect, but it is possible. If you’re caught committing an ethical violation, your employer may fire you immediately and take legal action against you. The law requires employers to terminate employees who have been convicted of serious criminal offenses (like murder) or who are addicted to drugs or alcohol at work.

These rules are the foundation upon which you build a successful and ethical career.

You will be tempted to think of these rules as the “rules” that you need to follow. But they’re not just rules—they’re the foundation upon which you build a successful and ethical career. The consequences for violating these rules are serious, and I want you to know how important it is for you to learn about them now so that when someone asks about your behavior in this area, all of those negative consequences (and then some) will be avoidable.

Conclusion

This is the foundation upon which you build a successful and ethical career.