The ethics is linked to the moral and establishes what is good, bad, allowed or desired regarding a action Or a decision. The concept comes from the Greek ethikos, what does it mean "character" . Ethics can be defined as the science of moral behavior, since it studies and determines how the members of a society .
A code , meanwhile, is a combination of signs that has a certain value within a system settled down. At right , the set of rules that regulate a given subject is known as a code.
A code of ethics , therefore, sets standards that regulate the behaviors of people within a company or organization . Although ethics is not coercive (it does not impose legal penalties), the code of ethics implies mandatory internal regulations.
Not disclosing confidential information, not discriminating against clients or co-workers based on race, nationality or religion and not accepting bribes, for example, are some of the postulates that are usually included in the codes of ethics.
The norms mentioned in the codes of ethics may be linked to legal norms (for example, discriminating is a crime punishable by law). The main objective of these codes is maintain a uniform line of behavior among all the members of a company. By including written instructions, it is not necessary for a manager to explain at all times what are the obligations that an employee has.
On the other hand, those people who write the code of ethics are in a hierarchical position over the rest, since they are in a position to stipulate what are the correct behaviors from a moral point of view.
Medicine and the code of ethics
As we have already expressed, the obligation of every professional is manifest impolute behavior where ethics is its main objective. As it is a social service, it must be based on wanting good for the community in which it operates.
The first to express a series of rules that should be met when performing any social task, was Hippocrates, when medicine did not yet exist as such. It was he who set the ethical guidelines that would later manifest as fundamental for the practice of medicine anywhere on the planet. In any case, it was not only until 1979 that the ethical and moral principles that every professional should manifest were described within the medical circle. This treaty was called Ballantine and was published in 1979.
In the medical career there are a number of subjects whose importance is instill in the future doctors common good ideas and above all, a critical and balanced spirit, to know how to always act towards the common good and the quality of life of their patients. In this training the criteria needed for the individual are instilled make the best decisions, within what fits in your profession.
An unethical doctor will be a professional who will put money and fame before the good of the patients and this will mean a moral disorder in the actions of the individual and a serious risk for the community you attend.
Unfortunately throughout history, medicine has derailed from its first goal: to help people improve their quality of life and has become an instrument of manipulation for various ideologies; This has led many people to skim medicine and that it has become a lawful business. Despite this, it is important to point out the importance of recover the true meaning that this science had in its origins.
