Ethical Issue

Layal Khocheiche and Aliena Messina

Senior Seminar
November 3, 2014

Ethical issues occur daily in the workforce and for this reason codes of ethics were put in
place to help healthcare professionals make difficult decisions. Ethics are the principles and
guides to help make decisions. It is the application of human values of right or wrong to make
moral choices. There are two types of ethics, Rules and Situational. Rule ethics, used by The
Academy, are sets rules made by an outside source and then are codified and used for the
basis of making moral decisions. Situational ethics takes into account the context of an act
when evaluating it ethically and then judging it. The purpose of the Academys code of ethics is
to provide guidance to dietetic practitioners in their practice and conduct. This code applies to all
members of the academy that are registered dietitians, and DTRs; additionally all members that
are not credentialed, and any other RDs or DTRs that are not Academy members.
Our team finds the most important principle to be that of the fundamental principles. It is
the responsibility of the dietitian to protect clients, the public and the profession. As future
dietitians, we feel that our patients and/or clients come first. We are to uphold the principles of
being honest, fair and reliable. Another principle that is important to us is the responsibility of the
client. The dietetic practitioner is to treat the client and/or patient with respect and consideration.
Motivating patients is best done in a caring and respectful manner, rather than with
condensation. Lastly, the dietetics practitioner doesnt engage in false or misleading practices

or communications. We wouldnt want our personal medical issues on Facebook or any other
social media. Thus, we disagree with the R.D.s actions and we would approach the intern. We
would ask her why she went on Facebook to talk about a patient and physician. We would
inform her that this is unethical and to delete the post. Even though she did not specifically use
names, she betrayed a patients trust and privacy.
Our ethical issue at hand centers the use of social media and dietetic interns. One of the
interns went on Facebook and described a patients condition and the doctors recommendation,
however she did not state any names. Using the Academy Code of Ethics, the course of action
we would take is would be to speak with the intern privately and explain to her the ethical issues
of her actions. According to the code of ethics, her actions violated the following principles: the
intern did not conduct themselves with honest, integrity and fairness; the intern also did not
respect the values of the patient/physician; the intern did not comply with all laws and regulation
related to the profession; and lastly, the intern did not treat the patient/client with respect and
consideration. When considering this ethical issue, we had two possible courses of action. The
first was to go directly to the ethics committee with a complaint with the interns conduct and the
second option was to speak directly with the intern. When considering option one, we noted that
she violated HIPAA laws, the intern went against the Code of Ethics fundamental principles of

integrity and fairness, and was disrespectful of the patients privacy. Additionally, when filing a
formal complaint with the ethics committee, the complaint must be made within a year of
becoming aware of the violation of an ethical issue. Subsequently, when considering option two
and speaking directly with the intern, we noted that they are still learning, no names of physician
or patient were used in the Facebook post and if we were to file a formal complaint there is a
possibility of the intern losing her spot and further chance of becoming registered/licensed.
Finally, we also noted that as an intern, under our supervision, it is our job to teach what is right
or wrong in clinical setting; based on the interns use of social media we have not yet fully taught
this lesson.
Using the Tilt method, the most significant things to note for us were, first that HIPAA
laws were violated, which were put in place to protect sensitive healthcare and information of
patients. Violating these laws can result in potential lawsuits and liabilities towards the hospital.
However, we feel that being that it is just an intern, there is room for error and they are not fully
aware what is right or wrong in a clinical setting. We feel that the best way to treat the situation
as a learning experience. Speaking directly with the intern will allow us to teach the clinical dos
and donts and the important of discretion on social media.

Thus, the code of ethics will help us to make decisions in difficult situations. Although, it
wont solve the issues at hand it will provide a thorough understanding of the issues are and
what can be done to fix the dilemma. We believe the 19 principles of the Academy code of
ethics are very important in helping us make decisions when faced with a dilemma within the
healthcare field.

The Question: What course of action should we take towards the intern?

Action Option #1
File a formal complaint with

Action Option #2
Tilt

Speak directly with the

the Academy

- HIPPA laws violated

intern

HIPPA laws were most

- The intern is still learning

definitely violated
- Acted against the

- The intern did not use the

fundamental principles of

patients or physicians

integrity and fairness

namestill attempted to
keep the information private

- Was disrespectful about a

patients condition

- If a formal complaint is
filed against the intern, their

- A formal complaint must

be made within one year of

chances of becoming
Just an intern registered may be ruined

the complainant becoming

aware of an ethical breach

and the internship spot may

Doesnt yet know right be lost
from wrong in a clinical
setting - Being that it is just an
intern, they do not exactly
This breach of know right from wrong
confidentiality may be when working in a clinical
better served as a learning setting because they do not
experience, rather than ruin yet have the necessary
the interns career experience