Ethics codes embody both universal social norms like fairness and equality as well as specialized professional norms. They integrate values through standards of virtue, principles of responsibility, and rules of duty. Standards of virtue assess character and practice, principles of responsibility prescribe conduct while allowing judgment, and rules of duty prescribe conduct without discretion. Ethics codes bond practitioners to positive moral identities through idealized conduct standards. They embody "ideal types" that integrate values and images to define a profession's moral image and identity.

1. Ethics CodesEthics Codes: point of: point of interfaceinterface betweenbetween
specialized professional conductspecialized professional conduct
and universal social normsand universal social norms
Specialized mode of service toSpecialized mode of service to
communitycommunity
Professional form taken on by socialProfessional form taken on by social
normsnorms

2. General social normsGeneral social norms
values implicit invalues implicit in common moralitycommon morality
fairnessfairness
equality of opportunityequality of opportunity
freedom and autonomyfreedom and autonomy
protection from harm and injuryprotection from harm and injury
non-interference and privacynon-interference and privacy
minimal well beingminimal well being
Universal ethical obligations regardless of professional identity or groupUniversal ethical obligations regardless of professional identity or group
membershipmembership

3. Specific professional normsSpecific professional norms
form these values take on in professional codesform these values take on in professional codes
Non-discrimination and equality of treatmentNon-discrimination and equality of treatment
Non-malfeasance and protection from harmNon-malfeasance and protection from harm
ConfidentialityConfidentiality
Informed consentInformed consent
Non-deceptionNon-deception
Beneficence to clients and institutionsBeneficence to clients and institutions
Specific expectations that attach to roles and professional practicesSpecific expectations that attach to roles and professional practices

4. Professional ethics codes:Professional ethics codes:
embody a common frameworkembody a common framework
Standards of “Virtue”Standards of “Virtue”
Principles of ResponsibilityPrinciples of Responsibility
Rules of DutyRules of Duty

5. Standards of Virtue:Standards of Virtue:
used to assess the character and practice of individualsused to assess the character and practice of individuals
example:example: professionals shall maintainprofessionals shall maintain
competencecompetence in their practice and dealings within their practice and dealings with
clientsclients
AMA Principles of Medical Ethics:AMA Principles of Medical Ethics:
A physician shall continue to study, apply and advance scientificA physician shall continue to study, apply and advance scientific
knowledge… and use the talents of other healths professionals whenknowledge… and use the talents of other healths professionals when
indicated.indicated.
continuing scientific and medical trainingcontinuing scientific and medical training

6. Principles of Responsibility:Principles of Responsibility:
prescribe required conduct while leaving space for discretion andprescribe required conduct while leaving space for discretion and
judgmentjudgment
example:example: Engineers should hold paramount theEngineers should hold paramount the
safety, health and welfare of the publicsafety, health and welfare of the public
National Society for Professional Engineers:National Society for Professional Engineers:
Engineers shall not complete, sign or seal plansd and/or specification thatEngineers shall not complete, sign or seal plansd and/or specification that
are not of a design safe to the pubic health and welfare and and inare not of a design safe to the pubic health and welfare and and in
conformity with accepted engineering standards.conformity with accepted engineering standards.
special technical responsibility for applying engineering expertisespecial technical responsibility for applying engineering expertise
to protect the publicto protect the public

7. Launch of Space ShuttleLaunch of Space Shuttle ChallengerChallenger
19861986
Controversy among project engineers over cold weatherControversy among project engineers over cold weather
conditions for launchconditions for launch

8. Launch of Space ShuttleLaunch of Space Shuttle ChallengerChallenger
19861986
Cold weather conditions cause failure of fuel tank O-RingsCold weather conditions cause failure of fuel tank O-Rings
Catastrophic explosion ensuesCatastrophic explosion ensues

9. Rules of Duty:Rules of Duty:
prescribe required conduct while leaving no space for judgment orprescribe required conduct while leaving no space for judgment or
discretiondiscretion
example: Researchers studying human subjectsexample: Researchers studying human subjects
must obtain the prior informed consent of allmust obtain the prior informed consent of all
study participantsstudy participants
American Psychological Association – Ethical Principles for Psychologists:American Psychological Association – Ethical Principles for Psychologists:
……the psychologist carries out his/her investigations with respect andthe psychologist carries out his/her investigations with respect and
concern for the dignity and welfare of the people who participate and withconcern for the dignity and welfare of the people who participate and with
cognizance of federal and state regulations and professional standardscognizance of federal and state regulations and professional standards
governing the conduct of research with human participantsgoverning the conduct of research with human participants
expectation of pre-studyexpectation of pre-study informed consentinformed consent and post-studyand post-study debriefingdebriefing ofof
participantsparticipants

10. The Stanford Prison ExperimentThe Stanford Prison Experiment

11. Ethics Codes: embody “ideal types”Ethics Codes: embody “ideal types”
integrating valueintegrating value
positive moral image / identitypositive moral image / identity
))

12. Ethics Codes: embody “ideal types”Ethics Codes: embody “ideal types”
integrating valueintegrating value
positive moral image / identitypositive moral image / identity
Medicine:Medicine:
patient beneficencepatient beneficence (value)(value)
““protector” imageprotector” image (image)(image)

13. Principles of medicalPrinciples of medical
ethicsethics
Embodiment of idealEmbodiment of ideal
Feldman: idealized conductFeldman: idealized conduct
becomes a integrativebecomes a integrative
symbolsymbol
bonding practitioners to thebonding practitioners to the
positive moral identitypositive moral identity
contained in the idealcontained in the ideal
[1] Physicians shall be[1] Physicians shall be
dedicated to providingdedicated to providing
competent medical carecompetent medical care
withwith
compassioncompassion andand respect forrespect for
human dignityhuman dignity andand rights.rights.

14. Principles of medicalPrinciples of medical
ethicsethics
Embodiment of idealEmbodiment of ideal
Feldman: idealized conductFeldman: idealized conduct
becomes a integrativebecomes a integrative
symbolsymbol
bonding practitioners to thebonding practitioners to the
positive moral identitypositive moral identity
contained in the idealcontained in the ideal
[7] A physician shall, while[7] A physician shall, while
caring for a patient, regardcaring for a patient, regard
responsibility to the patientresponsibility to the patient
as paramount.as paramount.

15. Principles of medicalPrinciples of medical
ethicsethics
Embodiment of idealEmbodiment of ideal
Feldman: idealized conductFeldman: idealized conduct
becomes a integrativebecomes a integrative
symbolsymbol
bonding practitioners to thebonding practitioners to the
positive moral identitypositive moral identity
contained in the idealcontained in the ideal
[8] A physician shall support[8] A physician shall support
access to medical careaccess to medical care
for all people.for all people.
Note: added in 1971Note: added in 1971

16. Anti-ideal?Anti-ideal?
Physician arrogancePhysician arrogance
““uncaring” demeanoruncaring” demeanor