Personal and Professional Ethics, Essay Example

In general terms the concept of ethics relates to how we conduct ourselves from a moralistic, obligatory and virtuous standpoint.   Whereas personal ethics are more in keeping with our personal values and commitments to others, professional ethics  tends to be more holistic by nature and relates to those standards we uphold in our professional lives.  In certain professions these can be very serious and have life threatening consequences i.e. Doctors, Lawyers, Bankers, etc.

Personal Ethics

It is fair to say that everybody, leastwise in Western democracies, has both freedom of expression and the right of choice.  As such this can be morally bad or good.  In theory we are all bound by the law of the land and as such our interpretation and application of these laws will vary according to our own moral standards.  If you are an educated person with a relatively affluent upbringing you are more likely to respect and uphold the law. In this case the laws seem much more pertinent to your position and role in life.  If you are a poor person with no education and forced to survive in the streets of a City, then your ethics are much likely to be tuned more towards survivalism as opposed to upholding the common law.  ” A person who believes that certain races are inferior to others and therefore that it is “right” to oppress or persecute those races has adopted a personal value system that is inherently “unethical” according to the universal and consensus values associated with normative ethics. Similarly, an individual who has decided that lying is proper if it is necessary to achieve an important personal goal cannot assert personal ethics as a shield against impropriety.” (Portman)

Perhaps the nicest summary of personal ethics was provided by the Dalai Llama relative to Buddhism and his Tibetan monks. “Human qualities as morality, compassion, decency, wisdom and so forth have been the foundations of all civilizations.  These qualities must be cultivated and sustained through systematic moral education in a conducive social environment, so that a more human world may emerge. The qualities required to create such a world must be inculcated right from the beginning, from childhood.  We cannot wait for the next generation.  This is a particularly good verse because it sets out the principles of personal ethics as the foundation for all civilizations.  It describes our humanity towards one another and the importance of educating Children the meaning of right and wrong from an early age.  Never has this been so important as today.  A world approaching global catastrophes, a world of religious and racial intolerances and a world of rising tensions and conflicts. 

Professional Ethics

These are normally provided by professions and govern the code of conduct that members of the profession are expected to uphold.  It covers such items as standard of practice, continuing professional development and maintenance of currency of research in their profession, provision of due diligence and care to customers or clients,  maintaining a practice standard applicable to a body of knowledge of the profession, restraining from any fraudulent or negligent acts, behaving in a professional and responsible manner to fellow members of the profession.  Those in breach of professional ethics may be reported to a governing body and may be summoned to a hearing. If proven to be a serious breach they may be find and in the most extreme cases struck off the professional register and have their practicing certificates revoked.  This is particularly applicable to Doctors, Dentists, Accountants, Lawyers, Bankers, Nurses, Teachers etc.

Conflict Between Personal and Professional Ethics

Without a doubt there are times where personal and professional ethics can collide.  A good illustration might be in the medical profession where a Doctor and Nurse are looking after a terminally ill patient.  Should the patient be allowed to suffer or should the patient be allowed to pass peacefully away.  The professional ethic is  all about saving life whilst the personal ethic may be more humanitarian and preventing suffering. To make matters worse it has legal connotations and the Doctor may face legal consequences if he breaches his medical ethics of doing all to save lives.  A similar problem may face the litigation lawyer defending a client who ultimately they may believe to be guilty.  The Accountant who allows a fraud to be perpetrated on behalf of his client or acts improperly when filing tax returns. (Noonan)

The Nursing profession is particularly vulnerable as the ethical responsibilities are different from the Doctors and this can create ethical dilemmas.  Although the Doctors, strictly speaking are in charge, the brunt of recovery firmly resides with the Nurses.” the contrast between the perceived weakness of the female gender and the strength of the nursing profession as a whole (e.g., the largest single sector of the health care industry), and  the inconsistency between the goals of the physician and institutional sectors of the health care industry with goals of the nursing profession.”  (Jardin)

“A code of ethics cannot resolve all ethical issues or disputes or capture the richness and complexity involved in striving to make responsible choices within a moral community. Rather, a code of ethics sets forth values, ethical principles, and ethical standards to which professionals aspire and by which their actions can be judged.”  (Killingbeck)

Works Cited

Jardin, Karen des. Political involvement in nursing—politics, ethics, and strategic action. 11 2001. 7 12 2009 <http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m0FSL/is_5_74/ai_81161374/>.

Killingbeck, Paul Leighton and Donna. Appendix: Professional Codes of Ethics. 2000. 7 12 2009 <http://www.paulsjusticepage.com/cjethics/ethics_appendix.htm>.

Noonan, John T. “Professional Ethics or Personal Responsibility.” Noonan, John T. Professional Ethics or Personal Responsibility. New York: Monroe H Freedman, 1975.

Portman. What is ethics? 1 12 2009. 7 12 2009 <http://sun.menloschool.org/~sportman/ethics/definition.html>.