Ethics in the mentoring of gerontologists: rights and responsibilities

This article examines professional codes of ethics as they apply to the mentoring of gerontology students, supervisees, or proteges. Ethics codes from the disciplines represented in professional gerontology were evaluated according to the specificity of their ethical mentoring guidelines. Three levels of specificity were identified. General "do no harm" statements are most common. Clear, explicit guidelines or rules are much less frequent. Where explicit mentoring guidelines exist, they focus on the use or misuse of the power of the professional/mentor in the mentoring relationship. Specific suggestions regarding the rights and responsibilities of both parties in the mentoring relationship, reflecting both formal ethics codes and the authors, experiences, are made.