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Code of Ethics

Shawnette Howard

SHNU

1/16/2022

A Code of ethics is a set of moral guiding principles that generally dictate how different situations should be handled within an organization, assuming people will have to play different roles and the said roles will involve the interaction with different people. Therefore, these guiding principles are put in place to ensure the utmost high recognition of professionalism within the working environment. It is agreeable that such principles are primarily put in place to act as a watch regarding ethics and morality regarding what is right to what is wrong. Therefore, this implies a minimum expectation of the kind of conduct expected in the workplace, and this code constitutes ethical standards.

American Medica Association (AMA) is one of the biggest and most established organizations in the United States of America. This implies that there is a need to establish a set of rules and expectations to be followed by the different medical practitioners when it comes to handling sensitive information, especially that information that is relevant to the treatment of a patient. This need has created the room to adopt a code of conduct that recognizes that communication must be done in an ethical manner that recognizes both the patient and the medical practitioner's role in the exchange, that is, treatment of the patient by the medical practitioner this codes are under Chapter 2: Ethics of Consent, Communication & Decision Making ( AMA, 2022). The code describes that information should be shared to ensure professionalism. It further recognizes that there should be a logical way of communicating information regardless of the patient and why they have sought out medical help.

The idea is to ensure that the patient feels safe enough to confide in their doctors in whatever capacity is needed depending on what information is required. For this reason, despite the means of communication, for example, through electronic means such as over a phone call, information should only be relayed to the legally recognized individual, in most cases the patient, next of kin, or parents and guardians. The code recognizes that information can be shared for many reasons, including announcing a patient's release or even death. Communication, in this case, is left to those who are in a legal capacity and professionally to be able to convey such a message in a clear and comforting as is required in this field.

United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) is a humanitarian organization mandated by the United Nations (UN) to take care of refugees and those displaced from their homes in a manner that destabilizes their ability to take care of themselves and their families. In most cases, such individuals may be escaping war or floods and famine, thereby seeking help from the organization. Like AMA, UNHCR recognizes the importance of communication, especially because the information is critical in the idea that funds used are from donors who would want to know how their money is being used. Therefore, the organization's code of ethics requires its employees to avoid sharing information about any of those refugees seeking help and those volunteers who are part of the organization out of their own accord. In this case, communication about any individuals is limited by the code of ethics to those legally allowed to.

However, the two organizations contrast in their code in the sense of need. The American Medical Association applies the code of ethics to ensure that confidentiality is maintained, thereby building trust between the Doctors and their patients. In contrast, the UNHCR uses the codes to develop a way of protecting those seeking help for reasons that may endanger their lives, such as those who are running away for political reasons. In the latter, communication is limited to ensure that such individuals' identity remains hidden, creating security for them.

Professional codes in ethical digital and mediated communication ensure that online communications are carried out in a sensible way that keeps the idea for respect of every individual at both ends of the communication medium. The code of honesty is an important ethical code in digital and mediated communication because it recognizes that digital communication is only efficient in cases where there is an actual representation of everyone's true identity. In such a case, identity must be honestly presented to avoid situations of misrepresentation, which may lead to unlawful and unwarranted decision-making out of the communication being made (Ethics, 2022). Secondly is the code of confidentiality; this ethical code is important in the sense of the sensitivity of the information being communicated by one individual to another. In such a case, information being communicated may at times bear vital data such as individuals' bank information or information that bears life or death consequences, as is often the case when it comes to information pertaining to the dispatching of military personnel and etcetera(Ethics, 2022). Therefore, this code is important since it ensures that aspects of identity are protected when communication is done over such mediums.

Based on my reading, I believe that their ethical guidelines would benefit any given organization. The first code in such a case is the practice of obeying any law or public policy; this is important because it gives everyone the mandate to work within the bracket prescribed by the law. A good example would be that such a code will deter individuals working in a bar from selling liquor to underage people since it is against the law (Ethics, 2022). Secondly, I believe that as a code of ethics, it should be expected that individuals in a workstation should give credit to those who are deserving. This is especially important when it comes to tasks involving superiors and those subordinate to them; in such situations, such a code would require that the superior staff recognize the role played by those under them. This is important because it provides everyone in a given workplace with a healthy environment to work in, in the sense that they can get the right reward for growth, for example, in the form of a raise and promotion.

An example of why such code would benefit a company is displayed in a situation where interns work hard to be recognized by their superiors and find solid ground in terms of employment in the organizations in which they are interning. Such a code in the said organization would allow the intern to feel comfortable, which inclines them to put in more effort, which reaps mutual benefit to the company and them as they are recognized for the good, they have brought into the company (Ethics, 2022). Lastly, I believe the code not guaranteeing results should be generally used (Ethics, 2022). The code is often misinterpreted to mean the lack of certainty; this is quite unfortunate since the code can generally mean that services rendered are to be offered within the scope of possibility. A good example of such a case would be when a doctor says that they will do everything humanly possible to save a patient.

Overall, having a code of ethics compares to having a guiding path that upholds professionalism in the work environment. Various organizations have their code of ethics that guide how things are done and ensure seamless operations. Wile their code of ethics, such as those of AMA and UNHCR might contrast, they are meant to serve the same purpose. Therefore thy should be upheld at all levels of the organization.

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