Professional Aspects DEFINITIONS Accountability Character traits Ethical code Professional etiquette Responsibility PROFESSIONAL ASPECTS DEFINITIONS Accountability means answerability and comprises personal accountability (to oneself and the patient), professional accountability (to ones profession) and public accountability (to an employer and to society), and entails associated duties and responsibilities Character traits establish an individual’s moral character and represent a disposition or readiness to act in certain ways, (for example honesty, compassion, commitment to competence, and courage) and are frequently referred to as virtues  Ethical code(Code of Ethics) is a written list of a professions values and standards of conduc Professional etiquette represents expected professional behaviours typically established in ethical codes  Responsibility is concerned with duties and obligations. It includes accountability but is a wider concept being associated with expectations as well as commitment and responsiveness. Responsibility extends to oneself (for example to maintain integrity and to engage in self-improvement) as well as to others.

Professional Aspects Codes of Ethics Professional values the Profession the individual Professional responsibilities duties and obligations Professional relationships professional behaviour good communication Accountability Professional bodies which regulate health care professionals have traditionally provided ethical guidance in the form of oaths or codes (for example The Hippocratic Oath associated with the medical profession). There is, however, the tendency for professional codes to be more concerned with specifying rules of etiquette and responsibilities rather than being truly concerned with ethics. Professions have a responsibility to define what their goals are and the expected role and accompanying duties of practitioners. Duties can translate into lists of obligations associated with skills and responsibilities, whereas goals are something to aspire to and represent the ethically optimal position. The important moral feature of professional codes may be the way they encourage striving for aspirations. Health care professionals, like patients, have their own values which influence their practice. A professional is required to continue to maintain a high level of professional competence. Professional responsibilities are expressed, and are continually developing, in professional codes.