CHAPTER 6

CODES OF ETHICS
The Nature of Ethical Codes
• In the world of codes of ethics provide the bases for
good work ethics. These codes generally set up a
system of duties and obligations, furnish a system of
right and wrong, promote positive work values,and define
what comprises ethicaland unethical practices inthe
performance of worjk or the practice of any profession.
• For every trade or business code is usually adopted to
the guiding light for all its employees.
• Code of ethics governing work or profession embrace
the principles of selfless service other basic principles of
right action exemplary and honorable norms of conduct
which is in the performance of work or in the practiceof a
profession
Professional Codes of Ethics

• Each profession subcribes to a set of

ethical codes, because the practice of a
profession cannot be regulated entirely by
law and legislation. Professional codes
remind members of the profession of their
moral obligation to the public, to their
profession, to their colleagues and to their
clients.
 Legal Code of Ethics
• The basis of lrgal ethics in the western legal tradition is that every
person has the right to legal representation of his or her financial
condition. The following are the general objectives of the integrated
Bar ( IBP By-Laws, Sec. 2 ) :
1. To elevate the standards of the legal profession.
2. To improve the administration of justice.
3. To enable the Bar to discharge its public responsibilities more
effectively.
The purposes of the Integrated Bar include, without being limited to those
specified in the per curiam Resolution of the Supreme Court dated
January 9, 1973 ordaining the integration of the Philippine Bar, are the
following:
1. Assist in the administration of justice.
2. Foster and maintain, on the part of its members, high ideals of
integrity.
3. Safeguard the professional interest of its members.
4. Cultivate among its members a spirit of cordiality and
brotherhood
5. Provide a forum for the discussion of law
6. Encourage and foster legal education
7. Promote a continuing program of legal research
The avoidance of conflict of interest is traditionally held as
one of the major mora; expectations from a legal
practitioner. Below are some time-honored principles of the
legal profession CD-ROM Special edition 2000):
1. Lawyers and judges must not engage in practices of
dubious legality.
2. When the outcome of a case is contray to the interest of a
client, the clients lawyer must not stand to profit from that
outcome.
3. Judges may not be personally invoved in the disputes over
which they preside.
4. In helping their clients, lawyers must stay within the law.
They must not knowingly aid their clients in breking the law.
5. The primary responsibility of a lawyer toward a client mat
conflict with certain ethical priciples.
6.lawyers should not withdraw from the case if such may injure
the clients chances od winning.
7. Clients secrets must be protected, except where the lawyer
knows that the client is engaged in activities "likely to result
in death or substantial bodily harm"
8. A lswyers fee shall be reasonable.
9. lawyers must disclose their fees to their clients "before or
within a resonable time after commencing the
representation".
A legal code has no legal force in itself. But it somehow affects
the way the leggal profession is practiced. But in the real
world adherence to the ideals provided by legal codes is
wanting among many legal practitioners.
Miscarriage of justice, especially against
the poor, is likely to happen, and i
happening due to weakness and fallibility
of the criminal justicr. Statistics compiled
by the Philippine Jesuit Prison Service
showed that as of January 1997, 70.05
percent of the death convict had an
income of 4,999 and below.
Perhaps, the condition especially of the
poor, would have been different if lawyers
and all other professionals genuinely abide
by their codes.
 MEDICAL CODE OF ETHICS
• This codes promulgated by medical associations and
generally, the hippodratic Oath.
the following are the general priciples of the CODE OF
MEDICAL ETHICS OF THE MEDICAL PROFESSION IN
THE PHILIPPINES ratified by the phillipine medical
association on May 27, 1960
1. the primary objective of the practice of medicine in the
service to mankind irrespective of race, creed, or political
affiliation.
2. Upon entering his professin, a physician assumes the
obligation of maintaining the honorable tradition that confers
upon her.
3. In his relation to his patients, he shall serve their interest with
the greatest solicitude, giving them always his best talent and
skill.
4. In his relation to the state and community, a physician
shouldfulfill his civic duties as a citizen, conform to the
laws.
5. With respect to the relation of the physician to his
colleagus he should sageguard their legitimate interest,
reputaion and dignity.
6. The ethical priciples actuating and governing a clinic or a
group of physicians are exactly the same as those
applicable to the individual physician.
In the Philippines, the Code of Ethics for the medical
profession is enforced by law under The Medical Act of
1959 ( RA 2382, Art. III. Sec. 24 [12] ).
The hippocratic Oath, considered as the greatest legacy of
Hippocrates, is not really an oath; it was, rather, an ethical
code or ideal, an appeal for right conduct for the teacher
of medicine and for their students.
The following is the modernized version of the Hippocratic
Oath adopted World Medical Association in
September1948:
Now being admitted to the profession of medicine...
I solemnly pledge to consecrate my life to the service of
humanity.
I will give respect and gratitude to my deserving teachers.
I will practice medicine with conscience and dignity.
I will maintain by all the means in my power the honor and
noble traditon.
My colleagues will be my brothers
I will not permit considerations of race, religion, nationality,
party, politics and social standing.
I will maintain the utmost respect of human life from its
inception.
Even threat will not use my medical knowledge contrary to the
laws of humanity.
Those promises I will make solemnlu , freelyy and upon my
honor.
The beauty, the ideals flavor and the
enduring wisdom pronounced by the text
explain why the Hippocratic Code is still
used today in graduation ceremonies of
many medical schools.
Experience shows us that these codes, just
like any other professional codes, are
simply statements of ideal and not of
reality.
 The Code Of Ethics Of The Teaching
Profession
Membership in the academic profession carries with itb special
responsibilities. Like the legal and medical professions, the teaching
profession also abides by some general principles that serve as
reminders of the variety of responsibilities teachers assume as members
of the proffesion.
What you will read in this section are the general statements of ethics in the
teaching profession, based on the published draft of the Statement of
Professional Ethics by the lowa State University.
1. As faculty members, guided by a deep conviction of the worth and dignity
og the advancement of knowledge, recognize the special responsibilities
placed upon them.
2. As teachers, faculty members encourage the pursuit of learning in their
students. They hold before them the best scholarly and ethical standards
of their discipline.
3. As administrators and collegues, faculty members have obligations that
derive from common membership in the community scholars
 Social Research Code Of Ethics
The trend today, especially in the academe, is the development of research
oriented professionals. Research involves the study of things: living and
nonliving, humans and nonhumans.
General Principles Of Research Ethics
Two general principles of research ethics are significant enough yo be
presented here:
1. The Principle of Informed Consent states that the voluntary and informed
consent of human subjects is essential in the conduct scientific research and
that it is the responsibility of the researcher.
2. The Principle of personal privacy states that the right of a person under
study is for the individual to be left alone to control his or her personal space
and information about himself or herself or herself.
Some Social Researchers occasionallyemploy deceptive
research method that are in clear violaton of these two
principles. In summary, the following are some rules of conduct
in social research based on the American Sociological
Association (1971 ):
4. As members of an academic intstitution, faculty members
seek to be effective teachers, scholarsand administration.
5. As members of their communit, faculty members have the
rigths and obligations of other citizens.
The traditional and popular conception of teachers as second
parents make the profession, especially in the Philippine,
the most respectedand esteemed, but one of the lest
compensated.
1. Social research depends, for its success, on subject's trust
and confidence.
2. It is expected that a researcher must not act in such a
manner that the right and integrity of his or her subjects are
violated.
3. A researcher must not conceal the fact he or she is
engaged in research.
4. A researcher should explain openly the purpose of his or
her research to the people being studied.
5. A researcher should not intentionally deceive the people as
to the uses to which the results of the study will be put.
 6. A researcher must respect the privacy and desires of
people, never forcing anyone to performe acts against his or
her will.
7. A researcher must learn and respect cultural rules that may
affect the conduct of research.
8. A researcher must be guided by truth in writing his research
inspired by the genuine desire to contribute to the
advancement of human knowledge.

The Code Of Ethics For Public Officials And

Employees
Workers in the civil service are the body of men and women
who have made government service their lifetime careers.
These men and women who serve in the government are
called public official.
The nature of emploment of workers in the government
suggests that they directly relate with the social
environment.
 Norms Of Conduct Of Public Officials and
Employees
Whatare the things expected of a government emloyee?
How should a government employee conduct him/she
perform work? If yu are thinking of being a public servant
someday, read the following carefully. Every public official
and employee is mandated by law to observe the following
as standars of personal conduct in the discharge and
execution of official duties ( Ibid...sec,4 ):
a) Commitment to public interest. Public officials and
employees shallalways upho;d the public interest over and
above personal interest.
b) Professionalism. Public officials and employees shall
perform and discharge their duties with the highest degree
of excellence, professionalism, intelligence and skill.
c) Justness and sincerity. Public officials and employees shall remain true
to the peole at all times. They must act with justness and sincerity and
not duty.
d) Political neutrality. Public and employees shall provide service to
everyone without unfair discrimination and regardless of party affiliation
or preference.
e) Responsiveness to the public. Public officials and employees shall
extend prompt, courteous adequate service to the public.
f) Nationalism and patriotism. Public officials and employees shall, at all
times, be loyal to the Republic and to the Filipino people, promote the
use of locally-produced goods, resources and technology, and
encourage appreciation and pride of country and people.
g) Commitment to democracy. Public officials and employees shall commit
themselves to the democratic way of life and values, maintain the
principle of public accountability, and manifest deeds, the supremacy of
civilian authority over the military.
h) Simple living. Public officials and employees and their families shall lead
modest lives appropriate to their positions and income.
 Officials and employees of the government should try
posting this list of standards in their bedrooms, kitchens,
even their comfort fooms, in order to be constantly
reminded that their practices of using government property
for selfishpurpose their discrimination against the poor,
their tardiness and lazinss, their nepotism and favoritism,
their arrogance, their unpatriotism, their polical
partisanship.

Duties of Public Officials and Employees

In the performance of their duties, all public officials and
employees are under obligation to do the following
( Ibid..Sec,5):
a) Act promptly on letters and request. All public officials and
employees shall, within fifteen ( 15 ) working days from
receipt thereof, respond to letters, telegrams, or other
means of communication.
b) Submit annual performance reports. All heads or other
responsible officers of offices and agencies of the
government and of government-owned or controlled.
c) Process document and papers expeditiously. All officials
papers and documents must be processed and within a
reasonable time from the preperation.
d) Act immediately on the public's personal iransactions. All
public officials and employees must attend to anyone who
wants to avail himself of the services of their offices and
must, at all times.
e) Make documents accessible to the public. All public
documents must be made accessible to, and readily
available for inspection by, the public within reasonable
working hours.
Promotness and expeditiousness of service are alien concepts
to some government employees.
 Unethical and Prohibited Acts
The Code of Conduct and Ethical Standards for Public Officials
and Employees (Republic Act No. 6713) declares unlawful
and the following prohibited acts and transaction of any
public officials and employees:
a) Financial and material interest. Public officials and
employees shall not, directly or indirectly.
b) Outside employment and other related activities.
1. Own, control, manage, or accept employment as officer,
employees, consultant, counsel, broker, agent, trustee or
nominee in any private enterorise regulated, supervised, or
licensed by their offices, unless expressly allowed by law;
2. Engage in the private practice of their professions unless
authorized by the Consitution or by law, provided that such
practice will not conflict or tend to conflict with their official
functiond: or
3. Recommended any person to any position in a private
enterpise which hasa regular or pending official transaction
with their offices.
c) Disclosure and/or misuse of confidential information.
1. To further their interest, or give undue advantageto
anyone; or
2. To prejudice the public interest.
d) Solicitation or acceptance of gifts.
As gifts or grants from ferign governments, congress
consents to:
i. the acceptance and retention by a public official or
employee of a gift of nominal value tendered and
received as a souvenir or mark of courtest.
ii. the acceptace by a public official or employee of a gift
in the nature of a scholarship or fellowship grant or
medical treatment; or
iii. the acceptance by a public official or employee of
travel grants or expenses for travel taking place
entirely outside the Philippine
To be more specific, the Civil Service Law provides that every
government employee ought to refrain from the following:
1. Disloyalty to the Republic of the Philippines and the Filipino
people;
2. Dishonesty and neglect of duty;
3. refusal to perform official duty;
4. Inefficiency and incompetence in the performance of official
duties;
5. misconduct and insubordination;
6. Being notoriously undesirable;
7. Convictin of a crime involving moral turpitude:
8. Falsification of official documents;
9. Physical or mental incapacity or disability due to vicious
habits;
10. engaging directly or indirectly or disability in partisan
political politics;
11. Graft and corruption,..i...e receiving for a personal use of a
fee, gift or other valuable thing in the course of official duties;
12. Contracting loans of money other properties from persons
with whom the office of the employee has business relations;
13. soliciting or accepting, directly or indirectly, any gift, gratuity,
favor, entertainment, loan, or anything of monetary value;
14. Nepotism and oppression;
15. Disrace and immoral conduct;
16. Frequent unauthorized absences, loafing, or frequent
unauthorized absences;
17. Conduct grossly prejudical to the best interest of the service;
18. Directly or indirect having financial and material interest in
any transactio;
19. Owing, conrolling, managing, or accepting employment as
officer, emloyee, consultant, vounsel, etc, unless allowed by
law;
20. Disclosing or misusing confidential and classified information
officialy known to him by reason
21. Gross discoutesy in the course of official duties;
22. Unfair discrimination in rendering public service due to party
affiliation or preference;
 Business Code of Ethics
In a world of intense and fierce competition, unethical activities
in the "free" world of business sometimes go beyond the
capability of common law and statutes to curtail.
However, many businessmen through the years started to
realize the value of good ethics in the profit-oriented endeavor
that is business.
1. Adequate pay for the employees
2. Opportunity for advancement ( e.g..promotions and career
fulfillment)
3. Recognition for good work
4. Reasonable security and safety in the workplace
5. Recosnition and respect for individuals as human beings
A business code that is formulated primarily fo rthe purpose of
governing the business activities of an industry, usually tells
about the ideal relationship of the industry to the public.
1. Good advertising recognizes both its economic and social responsibility
to help reduce distribution costs and to serve public interest.
2. Good advertising depends for its success on public confidence.
3. Good advertising aims to inform the consumer and helps him buy
intelligently.
4. Good advertising tells that the truth is accurate, honest and trustworthy.
5. Good advertising conforms not only to the laws, but also to the generally
acceped standards of good taste and decency and to the moral and
aesthetic sentiments of the country.
6. Good advertising seeks public acceptance on the basis ofpositive and
constructive statements made on the merits of the product or service
advertising.
7. Good advertising does not allow any activity whivh involves the
exploitation of the goodwill attached to any other firm, or product, or
service.
8. Good advertising helps enhance the dignity ofthe individual and
contributes to building of a civilized society.
Another example of a Business Code of Ehics worthy of emulation is the
Code of Ethics for Business proposed by the Bishops-Businessman's
conference for Human Development, Philippines (Agapay 5-6). A
significant part of the code provides:
Towards the customer, business shall, in te production goods and services:
1. Strive after a quality that will enable them to serve their
purpose effecietly and effectively.
2. Avoid anything detrimental to the health, safety or growth of
the proper user or beneficiary of such goods and services.
3. seek to apply or make use of the discoveries and
invesntions of science with adaptations that will improve
their products or services, thereby benefiting customers.
In its marketing arrangement, business shall:
1. Deliver the product or servicein the quality, and time agreed
upon, and at a reasonable price, and avoid the creation of
artificial shortages.
2. Establish an after-sales and complaints service
commensurate to the kind of product.
3. Ensure that all mass media, ppromotional and package
communications be informative and true.
There is a distinction between proclaiming something to be
good, and doing something that is proclaimed to be good. A
business code proclaims what is good a particular business.
But for the businessmen to do what is proclimed to be good
is another thing.
Consider good advertuising.We hardly see TV ads
that satisfy the ideals of good advertising. What we
actually have are cases where
cometingmabufactures attack each other in their
respective commercials. Take that particular line in
a bar soap commercial: yung powder ng iba kaya
malaki kasi may chalk, dito na ako sa maliit - kahit
maliit wala namang chalk. Who can miss what
brand is maliit and brand is malaki?
Nevertheless, it is good that some of our
businessman have at least evolved to become
creatures appreciative of the need to have a good
business code, but it would be betterif they evolve
further and possess the integrity to observe what
they stipulate in their codes,