Ethics can look easy on paper, but the working world offers some complex situations. Three scenarios illustrate how the AHIMA Code of Ethics provides a guide for examining ethical issues.ANYONE WHO IS a member of AHIMA or holds its credentials agrees to abide by its code of ethics. The code's 11 principles establish professional values and ethical principles, which include protecting and preserving personal health information, upholding an individual's right to privacy, advancing HIM knowledge, and mentoring students and colleagues. The code also prohibits HIM professionals from participating in or concealing unethical practices. And should a concern about unprofessional behavior arise, the code serves as a guide by which individual actions can be judged. Some behaviors are clearly unethical-fraud is an extreme example-but many are less clear and occur in complex situations. Some actions simply result from a lack of awareness of the code. The most complicated situations often involve colleagues who witness what is, or appears to be, unethical behavior and are unsure how to respond-especially if job security is on the line.
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