Codes of Ethics Healthcare Professionals Adhering to the Codes of Ethics

Chief Justice of the U.S. Supreme Court Potter Stewart once stated: “Ethics is knowing the difference between what you have the right to do and what is right to do.” A code of ethics is a command set of principles intended to instruct professionals to act honestly, which is beneficial to all stakeholders involved (Malach, 2020). The codes outline how nurses should behave ethically and decide when they encounter barriers preventing them from fulfilling their professional obligations. The codes can also support nurses in their practice and minimize their moral distress. They also provide a common set of rules or standards for all professionals to adhere to. It defines best practices for the profession. A code of ethics provides a basis to meet the profession’s compliance requirements and a legal standard for the profession (Maxwell, 2020). The code of ethics is restricted to general and vague wordings; because of this limitation, they cannot apply directly to all situations. It is also challenging to analyze thoroughly and predict the full range of moral problems that arise in a complex profession. This essay will explore two different codes of ethics for nurses and allied health professionals and look at the similarities and differences between the two codes of ethics.

Codes of Ethics for Nurses

A code of ethics guides an individual or group in making decisions regarding ethical issues. Nursing codes of ethics include beneficence, nonmaleficence, justice, accountability, autonomy, fidelity, and veracity (Yulianti et al., 2021). Beneficence is doing good and not harming others, while nonmaleficence is preventing intentional harm, and the two ethical concepts relate directly to the patient. The American Nurses Association Code for Nurses has a specific charge to protect patients by specifying that nurses should report unsafe, illegal, or unethical practices by any person. Nurses are often faced with making decisions about extending life with technology, which might not be in the patient’s best interest. Justice is closely tied to the legal system, but the word refers to the obligation to be fair to everyone (Brisman & South, 2019). Fidelity is the concept of keeping a commitment. Although the word is more closely used to describe a marital relationship, fidelity is the concept of accountability. Privacy and confidentiality could be challenged under the concept of fidelity. If a nurse is aware of another impaired healthcare giver, the circumstances are private or confidential. The codes of ethics have been adopted for many professions in recent decades. In nursing, one of the most-trusted professions, the ethical codes have been published by nearly every recognized professional group worldwide.

Codes of Ethics for Physicians

The revised Code, regarded as the basis of ethical principles for physicians worldwide, defines physicians’ professional concern towards their patients, other physicians and health professionals, themselves, and society. The Code says that physicians must respect not only the dignity and the rights of patients but also explicitly mentions their autonomy (Subramani & Biller-Andorno, 2022). The physician must immediately and respectfully inform the patient of this demur and of the patient’s right to ask another qualified physician and provide adequate information to enable the patient to initiate such a consultation in a timely manner. The Code refers to environmental health, stating that physicians have to practice medicine in environmentally sustainable ways to minimize environmental health risks for the current and future generations (Nayna Schwerdtle et al., 2020). Isolated treatment is included for the first time. The Code says that when providing medical care slenderly, the physician must ensure that this communication is medically justifiable and that the approval of medical care is provided. The physician must also tell the patient about the benefits and limitations of medical care slenderly, obtain the patient’s consent, ensuring that patient confidentiality is upheld. Wherever medically appropriate, the physician must focus on providing patient care through direct d personal contact. Moreover, the Code declares that physicians must attend to their health, well-being, and abilities and seek appropriate care to practice safely.