Chapter 8

CODE OF ETHICAL CONDUCT

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Objectives:
Upon completion of this chapter the student will be able
to:
Describe the medical laboratory code of conduct

Describe the IFBLS code of conduct

Describe the EMLA code of conduct

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 7.0. Medical Laboratory code of conduct
• Code of ethics
– is a formal statement of ideas and values developed by a
professional which
• Serve as standards and guidelines

– provides members of a profession with standards of

behavior and principles to be observed regarding their
moral and professional obligations toward one another,
their clients, and society in general.

– The higher the degree of professionalism required of

society members, the stronger and therefore more
enforceable the code. 3
 Professional Codes and Justice
• Accountability: punish professionals who violate
standards

• Duty to report colleagues’ wrong-doing for retributive

justice to be carried out

• Fairness in distribution of professional services (no

discrimination)

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 Medical laboratory code of conduct cont’d

Purpose of medical laboratory code of ethics:

• To inform the public about the minimum standards of profession
and to help them understand professional medical laboratory
conduct

• To provide a sign of the profession’s commitments to the public it

serves

• To outline the major ethical considerations of the profession

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Medical Laboratory code of conduct cont’d

• To provide general guidelines for professional behavior

• To guide the profession in self regulation

• Render services to the individual as well as to the community

by considering differences.

• To remind medical laboratory professionals on the special

responsibility they assume when they perform their duties.

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 Medical Laboratory code of conduct
International Federation of Biomedical Laboratory Science (IFBLS)
Code of Ethics

• IFBLS originally called the International Association of Medical

Laboratory Technologists (IAMLT) Was founded in 1954 in
Zurich, Switzerland

• IFBLS is an independent non-governmental association of

national societies in 35 countries, representing more than
165,000 medical laboratory scientists and technologists
worldwide.

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 IFBLS Code of Ethics:

Biomedical Laboratory Scientists shall:

• Be dedicated to the use of clinical laboratory science to benefit
mankind

• Actively seek to establish cooperative and specific working

relationships with other health professionals

• Provide expertise to advise and council other health professionals

• Maintain strict confidentiality of patient information and test

results

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 IFBLS Code of Ethics:
Biomedical Laboratory Scientists shall:
• Safeguard the dignity and privacy of patients

• Be responsible for the logical process from the acquisition of

specimen to the production of data and the final report of the
test result

• Be accountable for the quality and integrity of clinical laboratory

services

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Biomedical Laboratory Scientists shall:
• Exercise professional judgment, skill and care while meeting
established standards

• Uphold and maintain the dignity and respect of the profession

and strive to maintain a reputation of honesty, integrity and
reliability

• Strive to improve professional skills and knowledge and adopt

scientific advances that benefit the patient and improve the
delivery of test results
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Medical Laboratory Ethics in Ethiopia
Ethiopian Medical Laboratory Association (EMLA) prepared code of
ethics for Medical Laboratory Professionals practicing in Ethiopia.
It comprises of six parts. Established in Nov 26, 2004

Before EMLA, It was called Ethiopian

Medical Laboratory Technicians
Association (EMLTA), Ethiopian Medical
Laboratory Technicians and Technologists
Association (EMLTTA), and exists for
more than 45 years.

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 Code of Ethics for Medical Laboratory
Technologists Practicing in Ethiopia
• Deals with medical laboratory professional duties to
– Patients (Part I)
– Colleagues and other professionals (Part II)
– Himself/Herself (Part III)
– Society (IV)
– Medical laboratory profession (Part V)
– Environments (Part VI)

• Prepared in 2006 by Tedla Mindaye

Bamlak
(AAU, MLS) 12
 Chapter 7 Review Questions
• What is a code of conduct?

• What are some similarities and some differences in

the Ethiopian Medical Laboratory association code of
conduct and that of the IFBLS?

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