ABSTRACT
Consideration of the elements that constitute an ethical business is the first step
in realizing that additional elements make up a professional ethic. The Code of Ethics
of both the American Academy of Audiology and the American Speech-Language and Hearing
Association incorporate the elements of ethical practice for audiologists. To appreciate
the added requirements of professionalism, one needs to understand fully such concepts
as public trust, conflict of interest, and personal versus corporate integrity. A
few short courses teach the concepts of business ethics; however, there are few required
courses that teach ethical concepts to audiologists. The lack of such didactic information
does not remove the audiologist from the responsibilities inherent in professional
ethics. Further, a personal sense of integrity or honesty is not a sufficient substitute
for a professional ethic. Understanding these concepts would seem to be essential
to audiology in its quest for autonomy.
KEYWORDS
Professional autonomy - public trust - conflicts of interest - professional autonomy
REFERENCES
Available at: http://www.ethicsandbusiness.org/vistas.htm Accessed December 5, 2005 Available at: http://www.audiology.org/about/code.pdf Accessed January 16, 2006 Available at: http://www.census.gov/prod/2005pubs/p60-229.pdf Accessed August 9, 2005
mmetz@epichearing.com
