Developing a code of ethics in health information management

Area of Science:

• Health Information Management
• Bioethics
• Medical Informatics

Background:

• Establishing clear ethical guidelines is crucial for organizations.
• Health Information Management (HIM) faces unique ethical challenges, particularly concerning data privacy and security.
• A specific code of ethics is needed for HIM professionals in Iran.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop a comprehensive code of ethics tailored for Health Information Management (HIM) professionals in Iran.
• To address the specific ethical landscape and needs within Iran's healthcare system.

Main Methods:

• A mixed-methods developmental approach was employed.
• Comparative analysis of existing HIM and medical informatics codes of ethics.
• Expert work group proposal and validation using the Delphi technique with 42 commentators.

Main Results:

• Identified 70 statements from existing codes, resulting in 28 approved statements for the Iranian HIM code of ethics.
• Respect for autonomy emerged as the most important principle (46%), followed by justice (32%), beneficence (29%), and non-maleficence (14%).

Conclusions:

• Current Iranian HIM laws and policies are insufficient to address ethical complexities.
• A national code of ethics can enhance patient rights, data preservation, and interdisciplinary collaboration.
• Implementation requires regulatory support, training, and regular updates to foster an ethical culture.