Healthcare Code of Conduct: Principles & Ethical Guidelines

A health care code of conduct is used by hospitals and other medical organizations. They vary in purpose and intent depending on the institution or organization.

Definition

• A health care code of conduct is a set of ethical and legal principals compiled and drafted by a hospital or other medical facility or organization. Codes of conduct define an organization's values and goals.

Types

• One hospital may determine their code of conduct based on certain religious beliefs, while another institution may tailor theirs to specifically address the needs of children. A medical financing program may focus more on moral values such as honesty and integrity. A code of conduct may also explain in which areas the institution/organization's money is allocated.

Issues

• A code of conduct may address issues such as how hospital workers should interact with patients and co-workers, how to handle legal conflicts and how to deal with subcontractors and outside parties.