The need to incorporate professional principles, attitudes and ethics in optometric education

This paper reviews the development of ethical principles for the profession of optometry over the past 90 years, and how these principles have been modified and expanded in conjunction with the scope of practice during that period. The author discusses the mandated principles of licensing boards as well as Medicare and Medicaid requirements. In addition, areas of "non-mandated" ethical principles are reviewed such as the aging and AIDS patient, over testing, continuing education, corporate employment, patient records and referrals. The author suggests that ethical issues should be incorporated into all optometric courses in the curriculum and not just in a specific ethics course in order that many role models offer their input to students in the development of an ethical model for their professional lives.