Professionalism, Law & Ethical Practices

Question 1

What is professionalism?

Answer 1

• Refers to professional character, spirit and methods

Question 2

What is the criteria of a profession?

Answer 2

• Its requirement for prolonged, specialised training to acquire a body of knowledge pertinent to the role to be performed
• An orientation of the individual towards services, either to a community or to an organisation
• Ongoing research
• A code of ethics
• Autonomy
• A professional organisation

Question 3

Define attitudes

Answer 3

• Positions or feelings toward a person, object or idea (good or bad)

Question 4

Define beliefs

Answer 4

• What people accept as true and are often something that matters to an individual
• Religious faith, atheism and agnostic are all beliefs
• Does not have to be true but beliefs can determine how we live our lives and direct behaviours

Question 5

Define values

Answer 5

• Enduring belief or attitude about worth of a person, object or idea

Question 6

What is deontology?

Answer 6

The ethical theory that considers the intrinsic significance of the act itself as the criterion for the determination of good; we are not acting because we have desire to be helpful or generous but because of our sense of duty

Question 7

What is consequentialism?

Answer 7

The ethical theory stating that the value of a situation is determined by its consequences; this, the outcome of an action – not the action itself – is the criterion for determining the goodness of that action

Question 8

What are value ethics?

Answer 8

The ethical theory that rightness or wrongness of an action is driven by the motivation of the act; aim to avoid causing harm with emphasis on nurture and care

Question 9

What is autonomy?

Answer 9

The individual’s right to choose and the ability to act on that choice

Question 10

What is non-maleficence?

Answer 10

The duty to cause no harm to harm; harm can take many forms – physiological, psychological, social, or spiritual

Question 11

What is beneficence?

Answer 11

The ethical principle that means the duty to promote good and to prevent harm; two elements of beneficence – providing benefit & balancing benefits and harms

Question 12

What is justice?

Answer 12

Based on the concept of fairness; the major health related issues of justice involve the fair treatment of individuals and allocation of resource distribution

Question 13

What is fidelity?

Answer 13

To be faithful to agreements and promises to clients, employers, society and themselves

Question 14

What is veracity?

Answer 14

To be truthful, neither lying or deceiving others

Question 15

List the four concepts of professionalism

Answer 15

1. Calling or vocation
2. Professional detachment
3. Self-regulation
4. Proficiency and accountability

Question 16

Define ethics

Answer 16

• Refers to the moral principles that guide behaviour and decision making and deals with moral principles