Why Professional Ethics?

Dr. Sudarsan Padmanabhan, Associate Professor, Department of

Humanities and Social Sciences, IIT Madras
 Role of a Professional
People play multiple individual and social roles and
simultaneously.

A student, friend, brother, sister, hostel mate, member of a team,

artist, citizen, resident

Each role has certain obligations – a very basic duty of not

causing harm to other people

In extending this, a fundamental ethical obligation as a member

of the human community
 Role of a Professional
While there is a general ethical obligation, we have to look at a
specific obligation of professionals.

A professional has responsibilities that are beyond the normal

individual responsibilities. (Eg., a student, mother, father)

As a professional, there are organizational and institutional

responsibilities along with the individual responsibility to the
profession.

Being a professional signifies expertise and responsibility.

 Professional Obligations
To act in ways that are not detrimental to one’s profession, act in
conformity with the law of the land and to forswear any
unethical behaviour

For example, a lawyer cannot mislead the court, a medical

researcher should not falsify results, an engineer should not
compromise the safety of a production or research facility in
lieu of cost-benefit analysis, and physician should not
recommend or force a patient to undergo unnecessary
procedures, a journalist should not spin news reports
 Professional Obligations
Being a professional is a dynamic and complex task. Contexts
and situations vary. One should follow a minimal/basic ethical
practices and apply one’s critical faculty to logically analyzed
and evaluate the situation at hand and then act without ethical
violations. There is a general rule and a specific context. The
general rule would provide a canvas, a broad understanding of
what is right and wrong. One’s judgement should be informed
by the general rule and an understanding of specific contexts
and problems. Ethics is intimately associated with the process of
reasoning.
 Professional Obligations
Adhere to the rules of the professional societies like IEEE,
Engineering Council of India, BCCI, Bar Council of India,
Medical Council of India, IAAF, ICC, Press Council of India,
NCAA

Bar against violations of professional code of ethics – Sherman

Anti-Trust Act forbids fixing prices – Microsoft had two anti-
trust cases, one in the US and one in Europe – protects
consumers

There are implicit and explicit standards of practice.

 Professional Obligations
Some professions have specific codes according to the
requirements.

Engineers are supposed to provide clear information on products

and safety issues. And even if the organization that they work
for encourages unethical practices, their obligation to the society
is paramount and cannot be compromised.

Industry rules should not contravene laws and any specific

action should not be in violation of the general laws.
 Professional Obligations
Three stages of professional obligations:

1. General ethical or legal principles

2. Professional obligations – relevant to professions

3. Organizational responsibilities – relevant to specific roles in

an organization and organizational structure

The last two mentioned can never be at variance with the first
one.
 Formal Rules Vs Critical
Understanding
“With these sorts of formal rules already in place, you may ask
why it is necessary for professionals to have the ability to
critically analyze ethical situations. After all, if the rules are
there, then it just seems a matter of following them. It is
extremely important to realize, however, that acting ethically in
the professions is not so simple. Adopting, a simplistic approach
will not be helpful and is likely to be damaging. Even with
certain rules in place, ability to rationally analyze situations is
crucial.” – Rowan & Zinaich Jr
 Following Rules Vs
Understanding Situations
Rules must be interpreted. Interpretations need a sound logical,
rational and moral basis.

For example, freedom of speech in public sphere is different

from freedom of speech in a board room. There is a need for
critical understanding of how far freedom of speech go in
different situations. But if there is discrimination based on
gender, race, caste, religion or language, then freedom of speech
and action as your fundamental right is impaired. The concerned
individual or company becomes legally liable.
 Some intractable dilemmas
Hippocratic oath – promise to not give any deadly drug to end
one’s life even if one asks for it and not to provide abortive
remedies for women.

What about physician assisted suicide and abortions in medical

emergencies? In Ireland, Ms. Savita Halappanavar died after she
was refused abortion arising out of complications during
delivery.

In many of these cases, there is a commingling of law, religion,

and ethics because of which politics is always around the corner.
Can we ever avoid these?
 Ethics Vs Law
If a company policy is legal can it be automatically ethical?

Can the converse be true? If something is ethical could it be

termed automatically legal? Logically, we can demonstrate it
either way. Legal does not mean ethical and ethical does not
mean legal. Law is a formal document. It is based on strict rules
and regulations and if one can demonstrate a flaw in legal
reasoning or exploit a legal loophole, then the legal system
cannot by itself plug the loophole. The ball is thrown back to the
people or the legislature or the executive. The judiciary cannot
legislate. For example, the controversy surrounding section 377
ruling of the Supreme Court of India.