Ethics and values

HI135-3: Explain concepts of ethics and values in relation to situations occurring in
health information practice.
GEL-7.02: Apply ethical reasoning to ethical issues within the field of study.
PC-2.3: Demonstrate integrity through the application of relevant codes of conduct
and social responsibility within one’s profession.
Instructions:
Review thoroughly the AHIMA Code of Ethics on page 1 of Appendix C of the
“Health Information Management, Concepts, Principles and Practice” text. Apply
your understanding of professional ethics and the appropriate professional code of
conduct using the ethical decision-making matrix in Chapter 28 of the HIM:
Concepts, Principles and Practice starting on page 909 – to the five (5) scenarios
provided. In each case, the Code of Ethics has been violated. List first how the Code
has been violated, follow this with use of the seven (7) steps to identify a prevention
option so the issue will not recur. Be sure to list each of the seven steps and answer
the steps thoroughly for each of the five scenarios.
Scenarios:
1. At a meeting of her bridge club, one of the members expresses sympathy for
an absent member who, she reports, has recently been hospitalized as a
result of acute appendicitis. Jane, an RHIA, remarks, “Oh, it was not
appendicitis at all but, of course, I can’t tell you what it was because that
would not be ethical.”
2. When applying for fellowship in the American College of Surgeons, Dr. Smith
cites the cases of several patients who were actually cared for by a senior
surgeon on the case as examples of his own patients and surgical work. The
list of cases he has submitted is sent to the hospital to James, RHIA, for
verification. Knowing how eager the young surgeon is to obtain this fellowship
and not wanting to make trouble, James verifies by his signature the
statements that these were Dr. Smith’s patients.
3. Martha, RHIA, is sent by her hospital to an advanced workshop on HIPAA
security regulations in San Francisco. Because she has the speaker handout
package and can purchase audiotapes of the sessions for future reference, on
two of the days of the workshop, Martha decides to go shopping and
sightseeing instead of attending the afternoon sessions.
4. Hearing of a job in a hospital in the next town where the salary is better and
the working conditions more pleasant, Erica RHIA, applies for it. During her
interview, she stats that she earned her degree in a well-respected program.
In reality, she spent only one year in that program before transferring to
another program where she actually earned her degree. She secures the new
position and, because the second hospital is very anxious to have her start
work at once, places a letter of resignation under the door of the vice
president to whom she reports in her current position, informing the VP that
she will not be returning to the facility.

5. Jack, RHIA, works for MediUpdate, Inc. as a coding consultant. He also is a
newly elected member of the board of directors of the state health information
management association. The board has decided to sponsor a series of
coding update workshops and is in the process of reviewing proposals from
potential consulting and training companies. At the meeting, Jack heavily
promotes MediUpdate’s proposal and casts his vote for this company.
Minimum Submission Requirements
• This Assessment should be a Microsoft Word document (minimum 800
words), in addition to the title and reference pages.
• Respond to the questions in a thorough manner, providing specific examples
of concepts, topics, definitions, and other elements asked for in the questions.
Your paper should be highly organized, logical, and focused.
• Your paper must be written in Standard English and demonstrate exceptional
content, organization, style, and grammar and mechanics.
• Your paper should provide a clearly established and sustained viewpoint and
purpose.
• Your writing should be well ordered, logical and unified, as well as original and
insightful.
• A separate page at the end of your research paper should contain a list of
references, in APA format. Use your textbook, the Library, and the internet for
research.
• Be sure to cite both in-text and reference list citations where appropriate and
reference all sources. Your sources and content should follow proper APA
citation style. Review the APA formatting and citation style found in the
Writing Center. The Writing Center can be found within the Academic Support
Center under Academic Tools in the left navigation of your course. (It should
include a cover sheet, paper is double spaced, in Times New Roman 12-point
font, correct citations, Standard English with no spelling or punctuation errors,
and correct references at the bottom of the last page.)
If work submitted for this competency assessment does not meet the minimum
submission requirements, it will be returned without being scored.
Plagiarism
Plagiarism is an act of academic dishonesty. It violates the University Honor Code,
and the offense is subject to disciplinary action. You are expected to be the sole
author of your work. Use of another person’s work or ideas must be accompanied by
specific citations and references. Whether the action is intentional or not, it still
constitutes plagiarism.