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What are professional ethics and why are they important?

Professional ethics is important because it dictates to professionals a series of rules related to the way a professional acts towards the people with whom he/she relates professionally.

From a philosophical point of view, ethics has to do with morality and with the way people act in the sense of goodness or badness.

In this article I will inform you about professional ethics, types of ethics, characteristics of professional ethics, principles on which it is based and the reasons why professional ethics is important.

What are professional ethics and why are they important
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What is professional ethic?

Professional ethics is constituted by all the moral standards that govern the behavior and actions of professionals. It should be noted that for each profession these rules may vary, but they will always be based on principles and values.

It is also pertinent to conceptualize a professional, morals and ethics.

Professional. Generally refers to a university graduate who has completed a degree and who exercises his or her profession with ability and application.

Moral. This term refers to a person’s way of acting, in terms of his or her social and individual life, relating this action to good and evil or to goodness and malice.

Ethics. It refers to the moral norms on which the conduct of a person is based in the environment in which he/she develops; be it individual, social or professional, among others. Ethics is divided into three branches or types: metaethics, normative and applied.

Professional ethics is of the applied type, where controversial issues are dealt with from the point of view of morality.

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Why are professional ethics important?

Professional ethics are important because they serve to create organizations based on moral standards of conduct.

Here are a number of reasons why professional ethics are important.

  • Based on a set of rules, it can organize a group of professionals from the same profession.
  • The organization formed contributes to the personal growth of the associated professional.
  • Motivates teamwork and increases the bonds between colleagues.
  • Creates a system for each profession, called a code of ethics; in which the duties to be fulfilled by each professional are twinned.
  • Provides personal and professional benefits by regulating the actions of a profession and highlighting the virtues of the professional.

General characteristics of professional ethics

Professional ethics has general characteristics from which other more specific ones can be derived:

It is related to morality.

Professional ethics arises from the impulse to keep human performance in order and under rules.

Professional ethics seeks to support and improve the service provided by a professional.

It pursues the moral rectitude of the professions.

Professional ethics seeks to ensure that the professions follow the positive paths established in each society.

Professional ethics implies compliance with values.

It presents the virtues with which professionals practice.

Principles of professional ethics

Professional ethics are based on the principles of beneficence, autonomy, non-maleficence and justice.

Principle of beneficence.

Its foundation refers to goods and virtues; and the professional's actions are oriented to maintain a favorable behavior towards the person requesting the service and towards society in general.

Principle of autonomy.

It is oriented in the respect for freedom, in the search for balance and equity as a rule in the relationship between the professional and the client; so that there are no conflicts of interest and much less ethical.

Principle of non-maleficence.

It is based on the omission of any act that may cause harm; the professional is obliged not to harm in any way the people he/she deals with.

Principle of justice.

It is based on the social sense of the profession; it pursues the commitment of the professions to seek the common good, dignified life and the establishment of justice and equity.

Types of professional ethics

Professional ethics refers to principles and criteria that regulate the actions of a professional; however, there are several types of professional ethics, each of which is related to a profession. The following are the most relevant ones.

  • Legal ethics. It has as its main characteristic professional secrecy and refers to the practice of law.
  • Medical ethics. It regulates the actions to be followed in a conflict between the morals of a health professional and his or her professional duty.
  • Engineering ethics. Refers to placing the best interests of communities above personal desires.
  • Teaching ethics. As a guidance counselor and role model for children and young people, this professional should observe the best of conduct.
  • Military ethics. Indicates a series of criteria to limit their actions in relation to the use of force.
  • Administrator ethics. Loyalty, honesty and legality, among others are basic aspects expected of this professional.
  • Ethics of the psychologist. Respect for the individual, confidentiality, honesty, and responsibility are the most important aspects of this professional.
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Examples of compliance with professional ethics

Compliance with professional ethics is evident when:

  • A physician who suppresses prejudices and interests to save a life.
  • The lawyer who defends his client and respects confidentiality even when it is against his personal ethics.
  • The journalist who listens to both sides of the story and disseminates it objectively and impartially.
  • Offering respectful treatment to colleagues in the same profession, or to any other professional with whom he/she interacts.

In conclusion, there is a close relationship between ethics and the profession, since professionals in all areas must act under the principle of not doing wrong voluntarily to another human being and comply with ethics by contributing to collective development and social welfare.

References

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