Copyright Goodheart-Willcox Co., Inc 20 Unit 1 Foundations of Medical Law and Ethics After a serious fall that caused him to black out, an 18-year-old skateboarder is brought to the emergency room by his friends. He has a gash on his head and displays all the symptoms of a concussion. After getting stitches, he says he feels better and wants to leave without having a brain CT scan. Should the physician try to convince him to stay and have the test? Would doing so violate the patient’s ethical rights? Would the physician be doing harm by letting the skateboarder leave, since his suspected concussion may be affecting his thinking and judgment? What Would You Do? If you decide to pursue a career in healthcare, you will be expected to perform your work according to specific ethical guidelines and stan- dards of care for your chosen field. How do you know where to start? What are the behavioral expectations and guidelines for that profession? Perhaps the best way to begin is to research the specific code of ­ professional ethics that applies to your intended specialty. Then, broaden your search to determine if potential employers have set ­ certain ­ standards for their employees. Taken together, these codes and standards­ for behavior will usually include guidelines for honesty, respect, integ- rity, competence, justice, and professional behavior. Credentials (licensure and certification) often include a code of eth- ics that you must follow. Requirements for credentials generally vary among states and different specialties. Even if you select a healthcare career that does not require a specific credential, you will probably work for a person or organization that follows a formal code of ethics. You also may be subject to ethical rules based on your membership in pro- fessional organizations. If your intended healthcare specialty does not currently have a code of ethics, one may be developed over the course of your career. This chapter provides an overview of the changing environment of ethical rules, presents examples of different types of ethical guidelines, and describes the basic ethical principles used in the healthcare field. An Introduction to Professional Ethics Professional ethics, as explained in Chapter 1, are defined principles established by a specific group. These principles govern the standards of behavior for individuals within that group. Originally, codes of ethics, or sets of rules, applied only to the “learned professions,” which included theology, medicine, and law (Figure 2.1). However, the number of pro- fessions regulated by codes of ethics has expanded, particularly in the