Ethical values for health professionals

Safe, competent and ethical service: health professionals should value the ability to provide a safe, competent and ethical healthcare service that allows them to fulfil their ethical and professional obligations to the people they serve.
Health and wellbeing: health professionals value health promotion and wellbeing, and assisting people to achieve their optimum level of health.
Choice: health professionals respect and promote the autonomy of people and help them to express their health needs. They also help them to obtain desired information and services so they can make informed decisions.
Dignity: health professionals recognise and respect the inherent worth of each person and advocate the respectful treatment of all people.
Confidentiality: health professionals safeguard information learned in the context of a professional relationship, and ensure it is shared outside the healthcare team only with the person's informed consent or as may be legally required, or where the failure to disclose would cause significant harm.
Justice: health professionals uphold principles of equity and fairness to assist people in receiving a share of health services and resources proportionate to their needs.
Accountability: health professional are answerable for their practice, and should act in a manner consistent with their professional responsibilities and standards of practice.

Adapted from: Canadian Nurses Association: Code of Ethics for Registered Nurses, 2002

Look carefully at the contents of the box above. Which ethical value would you say was the most important for health professional to use in their work?

Show answer

Each one of these ethical values are really important and will ensure that the work of health professionals is carried out to the highest possible standards.