7 TH CHAPTER

(ETHICAL CODES)
1. MEANING OF ETHICAL CODES
2. SIGNIFICANCE OF ETHICAL CODES
3. LIMITATIONS OF ETHICAL CODES
INTRODUCTION:
 Professionals are governed by the rules and
regulations specified by a professional society.
 These rules and regulations are meant to ensure
ethical actions by them.
 Professionals have to register themselves with the
respective professional societies.
 Violation of the ethical codes may lead to de-
registration of the member professionals from the
professional society.
MEANING OF ETHICAL CODES:
 The guidelines, which are followed by the
professionals and such guidelines inform
them about their rights and responsibilities,
are known as ethical codes.
SIGNIFICANCE OF ETHICAL CODES:

 Generally, all professionals are members of professional

bodies.
 In India, medical and legal professionals are bound to
register themselves with the professional body before
they start practising their professions.
 In engineering, there is no such professional body with
which engineers are bound to register themselves before
entering the profession.
 However, membership of many professional bodies adds
prestige to the professional.
SIGNIFICANCE OF ETHICAL CODES …

 The significance/needs/objectives of ethical codes are

described below:
1. ETHICAL CODES ACT AS GUIDES FOR ETHICAL
FUNCTIONING:
 The ethical codes of professional societies act as guides
for a professional to perform his professional duties.
 Most codes talk of public good, honesty and integrity,
rules and regulations of the country, etc.
 The decisions and actions of professionals can be guided
by these codes.
SIGNIFICANCE OF ETHICAL CODES…
2. ETHICAL CODES ENHANCE THE IMAGE OF
THE PROFESSION:
 Ethical code is not only necessary to regulate the
member professionals’ conduct, but also to
enhance the image of the profession and the group
forming the society.
 Public image is important to claim more autonomy
and self-regulatory powers and to prevent
government regulations which may not be in the
interest of professionals.
SIGNIFICANCE OF ETHICAL CODES…
3. ETHICAL CODES SUPPORT PROFESSIONALS
TO FIGHT AGAINST UNETHICAL ACTS:
 When a professional enters the profession, it is
very likely that he may face a moral dilemma,
something he feels is not right.
 If the professional has to raise his voice against
such ethical deviations, he needs some support to
justify why he chooses to do so.
 The professional gets necessary support from
ethical codes to fight against unethical acts.
SIGNIFICANCE OF ETHICAL CODES…
4. ETHICAL CODES HELP IN GROOMING
FUTURE PROFESSIONALS:
 Now-a-days, most professional syllabi have a
course on ethics.
 Due to this, students learn about the code of ethics
and their duties.
 This helps in grooming a group of professionals
who are aware of their responsibilities and rights.
SIGNIFICANCE OF ETHICAL CODES…
5. ETHICAL CODES PROMOTE ETHICAL
BUSINESS:
 A professional who is aware of the ethical codes
has a better chance of promoting ethics in
business.
 Today, most companies have a code of ethics for
their employees.
 An ethical climate should spread to all the
business activities.
 Ethical codes can help in promoting ethical
business.
 Ethics in business is not a restriction rather
promotes the business.
SIGNIFICANCE OF ETHICAL CODES…

6. ETHICAL CODES PROVIDE PREVENTION TO

UNETHICAL CONDUCT:
 Ethical codes provide preventive actions and
punishment for unethical conduct.
 However, it is not very clear in engineering codes.
 The code of the Indian Medical Association (IMA) has a
separate chapter on prevention.
 Preventions are a necessary part of the codes.
 Even if registration and membership is not mandatory
for practising the profession, as in engineering, the
termination of membership and the subsequent
publicity itself act as prevention.
SIGNIFICANCE OF ETHICAL CODES…

7. ETHICAL CODES CAN CREATE AN ETHICAL

CLIMATE:
 When a group is governed by the same code of conduct,
it can promote cooperation and focus on common issues.
 This helps in the enhancement of an ethical climate in
the profession.
 Ethical codes are the rules of conduct based on ethical
principles.
 Ethical code is a type of self-regulatory mechanism.
 Ethical codes are dynamic and undergo changes from
time to time.
SIGNIFICANCE OF ETHICAL CODES…
 The following professional bodies have their own ethical
codes:
I. Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE),
USA
II. National Society for Professional Engineers (NSPE),
USA
III. Board of Ethical Review (BER), USA
IV. American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE)
V. American Society for Mechanical Engineers (ASME)
VI. Computer Society of India (CSI)
VII. Medical Council of India (MCI)
VIII. Bar Council of India (BCI)
IX. Advertising Standards Council of India (ASCI)
---
LIMITATIONS OF ETHICAL CODES:
 The limitations of ethical codes are:
1. Many ethical codes are just statements of dos and
don’ts for members.
 It is not possible to cover all the possible issues
which are likely to arise in the course of time.
LIMITATIONS OF ETHICAL CODES…
2. The provisions in the ethical code may be
conflicting.
 The provision of public safety, health, and
welfare may contradict with the provision for
loyalty to employers.
 Which of them is more important may result in
dilemma for the professional.
LIMITATIONS OF ETHICAL CODES…
3. Many provisions in the ethical code may not be
fruitful in future.
 Thus, the ethical code may not provide a final
word on morality of an action.
 This calls for continuous revisions and updating of
the ethical code.
LIMITATIONS OF ETHICAL CODES…
4. Many engineering ethical codes do not have
provisions for violation of ethical code.
 It is not that violations are not dealt with.
 There are committees and reports prepared and
actions suggested.
 However, these are not part of many ethical codes.
LIMITATIONS OF ETHICAL CODES…
5. There are many engineering codes.
 The presence of so many codes does not give a
clear picture to the public about the utility of
ethical codes.
 Many people feel it is time to look at a single,
unified ethical code for engineers.
---
PERSONAL CODES FOR PROFFSSIONALS:

1. HONESTY AND INTEGRITY:

 Professionals should be honest in all dealings.
 They should be reliable and dedicated towards their
duty.
2. TRUTHFULNESS:
 Truthfulness should be the hallmark of professionals’
words and actions.
3. RESPONSIBLE:
 Professionals should take responsibility for their actions
and be accountable.
PERSONAL CODES FOR PROFFSSIONALS…
4. TRUST WORTHNESS:
 Trust should be at the core of professionals’ actions
and decisions.
5. COURAGEOUS:
 Professionals should stand by their beliefs.
 They do not move from their value system.
6. RESPECT FOR OTHERS:
 Professionals show respect for others.
 They follow Confucius’ Principle - ‘Do unto
others as you would have them do unto you.'
PERSONAL CODES FOR PROFFSSIONALS…
7. BE WHAT YOU ARE:
 One should not change himself to please others.
 At the same time one should analyse himself to
change for the better.
8. CARING:
 Professionals should show care for others,
particularly the deprived.
 They should always offer a helping hand to
mitigate the sufferings of the deprived people.
PERSONAL CODES FOR PROFFSSIONALS…

9. EXCELLENCE:
 Professionals always strive towards excellence and
their best effort in whatever they do.
10. ATTITUDE:
 Professionals should develop a positive attitude,
which will help them negotiate obstacles in lives.
11. OPTIMISTIC:
 Professionals should always be hopeful and believe
that there is light at the end of the tunnel.
---
MAKING A PERSONAL MISSION:
1. A professional understands himself and his
purpose in life.
2. He makes a clear statement of his values.
3. A professional should take pleasure in the things,
work, friends, relationships and family which give
him satisfaction and peace of mind.
4. He makes a plan to improve himself and set a time
frame for it.
MAKING A PERSONAL MISSION…
5. He makes promises that he can keep to change his
life for the better.
6. A professional always allots time for leisure.
7. If he has everything he wants, what would he like
to do?
8. He should make a personal mission statement
and refine it. ---
PROFESSIONAL’S OWN PROFESSIONAL CODE:
1. A professional should keep himself professionally
competent and always he should be ready to
learn from others.
2. He always tries to improve his performance and
strives to achieve professional excellence.
3. All decisions and actions should be based on
professional conscience and judgement.
4. He should say no to all forms of bribes and gifts.
PROFESSIONAL’S OWN PROFESSIONAL CODE…
5. He always thinks on the basis of ethical principles.
6. A professional is committed to protect the
environment, which is the source of everything
we have.
7. He always keeps public good and safety in mind
while carrying out professional duties.
8. A professional should have the courage to fight
against professional malpractices.
PROFESSIONAL’S OWN PROFESSIONAL CODE…
9. He should strive to support and maintain a clean
image of the profession.
10. He should be innovative and contribute to the
well-being of the society.
11. A professional should give due credit to others for
their contributions and avoid all forms of
plagiarism.
---
PROCEDURE FOR DEVELOPING ETHICAL CODE:
The following procedure can be adopted for
developing the ethical codes:
1. An appropriate format for ethical code should be
derived.
 This will decide whether there should be many
sections or one section as in the IEEE code.
 There should be a section giving procedure for
disciplinary action.
PROCEDURE FOR DEVELOPING ETHICAL CODE…
2. Once the format is decided and approved, one can
draft the code as per the requirement.
 The language should be brief and clear and must
be easily interpreted.
3. Then, ethical code should be widely circulated
among professionals for opinion and comments.
4. The comments of the members can be
incorporated where found acceptable.
PROCEDURE FOR DEVELOPING ETHICAL CODE…
5. The final draft of ethical code has to be approved
by the board of the professional body.
6. The ethical code has to be widely circulated or
made available on a website for any one to read and
understand.
7. There are many training programmes for
engineers. A small session must be devoted to
discuss the ethical codes.
PROCEDURE FOR DEVELOPING ETHICAL CODE…
8. All engineering syllabi must contain a subject on
ethical codes for engineers.
 It is necessary to educate future professionals
about ethical issues which they may face in their
career.
 Ethical codes are written after analysing the
functions of professionals.
PROCEDURE FOR DEVELOPING ETHICAL CODE…
 Both dissemination of ethical codes and educating
engineering professionals about their
responsibility to the society are important.
 In this sense, ethical codes are guidelines which
must be followed by all professionals.
---
IMPLEMENTATION OF ETHICAL CODES:
 Professional societies depend on voluntary
observation of the ethical code by the members.
 The following steps help in the implementation of
ethical codes:
1. Training programmes and workshops in
professional ethics must be conducted for
working professionals by educational institutions
and business organisations.
IMPLEMENTATION OF ETHICAL CODES…
2. At least one session must be devoted to discuss
on professional ethics in conferences and
seminars conducted by professional
bodies/educational institutions/industry/
organisations.
3. Students and professionals must be encouraged to
write their views and experiences on ethics.
 They should be encouraged to speak about
ethical issues and publish papers on the subject.
IMPLEMENTATION OF ETHICAL CODES…
4. Institutional debates on professional ethics must
be encouraged. Case studies of actual instances of
professional misconduct or negligence should be
collected.
 These should be available to all professionals
through internet and other communication
channels for greater awareness about their
responsibilities.
IMPLEMENTATION OF ETHICAL CODES…
5. Professional Ethics must be a subject in all
professional courses to give direction to young
professionals to follow ethical practices.
6. Efforts must be made to discuss ethical issues in
the media and not just report the misconduct.
7. One ethical forum can be formed to which all
professionals can contribute by discussions and
reporting.
 Like many social networking sites, this can be a
free site which all professionals can use. ---
THANK
‘U’