Ethics in Clinical Laboratories

Professional ethics in healthcare refers to a set of principles of right conduct by healthcare providers. Actually, it is the moral bond that links a profession, the people it serves, and society. So, ethical issues are very important and we must constantly remind ourselves of the code of conducts and ensure we do the right thing. People often violate ethics not because they do it intentionally, but because they are careless. Ethical issues are often hard to deal with because they create problems. The ethical issues of microbiological characterization techniques in controlling the infectious diseases and avoiding the spreading include both individuals and public all together. The microbiology field is bound to great standard of responsibility and practice, and should aim to affect those that do not meet these standards. The professional personnel of a medical laboratory are bound by the ethical codes of their respective profession. Personnel responsible for the management of medical laboratories, as with other health professionals, have responsibilities over and above the minimum required by law. Management and personnel shall be free from financial, unnecessary commercial or other pressures and influence that affect the quality of work. They shall also be appropriately declared where potential conflicts in competing interests may exist. Decisions about diagnosis, prognosis and treatment are frequently based on results and interpretations of laboratory tests. So, inaccurate tests can cause irreversible impairment. Ethical practice can be considered as an excellent practice accompanied by proper technical behavioral attitudes. In summary, the code of ethics can be considered as:- Perform duties in an accurate, precise, timely and responsible manner - Be responsible for the quality and integrity of clinical laboratory services - Treat patients and colleagues with respect, care and thoughtfulness - Maintain strict confidentiality of patient information and test results - Safeguard the dignity and privacy of patients- Safeguard patient information as confidential, within the limits of the law - Cautiously use laboratory resources