Why do healthcare professional organizations establish a code of ethics?

Healthcare professional organizations establish a code of ethics to delineate the standards of professional practice expected from their members. This code serves as a framework that guides practitioners in their decision-making and interactions with patients, colleagues, and the healthcare system as a whole. By setting specific ethical guidelines, organizations help ensure that professionals adhere to principles such as integrity, accountability, and respect for patient autonomy. This not only fosters trust between healthcare providers and patients but also enhances the overall quality of care.

While enhancing patient satisfaction and revenue generation could be indirect outcomes of adhering to a code of ethics, they do not capture the primary purpose of such a code. Similarly, encouraging competition among professionals is not aligned with the intent of promoting ethical standards, which focus on collaboration and mutual respect within the healthcare community.