The case for a code of ethics in an ambulatory care setting

The health care industry leads others in the development and use of professional codes of ethics. However, ambulatory care facilities continue to operate without coherent ethical guidelines addressing the workplace itself. New diagnostic and treatment capabilities, coupled with economic pressures, have intensified the ethical dilemmas facing the ambulatory care practice. This article argues that office codes of ethics decrease the risk of liability exposure, clarify the expectations of patients and staff, and foster responsible ethical reflection in the workplace. Material for this article was gathered from relevant literature in the areas of business ethics, bioethics, and health care management.