Professional Ethics and Discipline
Professional Ethics and Discipline
This domain tests ethical reasoning and the disciplinary machinery. Expect questions on ethical principles, the code of conduct, what counts as professional misconduct, and how complaints are handled.
Ethical principles. Autonomy (respecting the patient's informed choice), beneficence (acting in their interest), non-maleficence (avoiding harm), justice (fairness and non-discrimination), veracity (truthfulness), fidelity (keeping promises and loyalty) and confidentiality. When principles conflict, reason explicitly rather than defaulting to one.
Conduct and misconduct. The code requires competence, honesty, respect, confidentiality, professional boundaries and cooperation with the regulator. Misconduct includes infamous conduct in a professional respect, gross negligence, falsifying records, breach of confidentiality, fraud in registration, practising while unregistered or suspended, and conviction for a serious criminal offence.
Disciplinary process. A complaint goes to the Registrar, is investigated, and may be referred to the Council's disciplinary tribunal. Outcomes range from caution or admonition, through suspension, to removal from the register. An employer may also act, but that action does not replace the regulator's.
Worked example. A nurse photographs a patient's wound and posts it in a professional WhatsApp group asking for advice. Even without a name, the image plus ward context may identify the patient. This is a confidentiality breach and potential misconduct; the correct route is the treating team or a formal referral, with consent and de-identification if used for teaching.
Traps. Not every unethical act is a crime, and not every crime is professional misconduct - but a serious conviction can be; an apology does not erase misconduct; a 'private group' does not make disclosure safe; being off duty does not suspend professional obligations.