Professional Conduct & Ethics Flashcards

What is the purpose of a code of professional conduct in healthcare?

Answer: To set standards for professional behaviour that protect patients and maintain public trust

Professional codes of conduct establish the behavioural and ethical standards expected of registrants, protecting patients from harm and maintaining public confidence in the profession.

A healthcare professional uses social media to post about a frustrating shift without naming individuals. Is this acceptable?

Answer: Potentially not — context could allow identification; HCPC standards of conduct apply online as well as in person

HCPC guidance on social media states that professional standards apply to online behaviour. Even without naming individuals, posts can identify patients by context and breach confidentiality or bring the profession into disrepute.

Which ethical approach focuses on the character and virtues of the healthcare professional rather than rules or outcomes?

Answer: Virtue ethics

Virtue ethics (rooted in Aristotle) holds that ethical behaviour flows from the character of a moral agent — virtues such as honesty, compassion, and integrity guide decision-making rather than rules or consequences.

Under the HCPC Standards of Conduct, Performance and Ethics, what does Standard 9 address?

Answer: Being honest and trustworthy in all professional dealings

HCPC Standard 9 (Be honest and trustworthy) requires registrants to be truthful in all professional communication, declare conflicts of interest, and not allow commercial interests to compromise their professional standards.

A radiographer discovers that imaging results have been inaccurately reported. What ethical obligations apply?

Answer: Raise the concern through appropriate clinical governance channels; patients potentially affected may need to be informed

HCPC standards require registrants to raise clinical governance concerns through appropriate channels. Where patients may have been harmed by inaccurate reports, duty of candour may also be engaged.

What is 'moral distress' in the context of healthcare professional ethics?

Answer: Distress experienced when a professional knows the right action but is constrained from taking it

Moral distress occurs when a healthcare professional recognises the ethically correct action but is prevented from acting accordingly (e.g., due to institutional constraints, resource limitations, or colleague pressure).