Codes of conduct govern ethical behavior in various professions, but violations such as mismanagement of client funds, conflict of interest, and expired licenses are common. Improper billing and improper documentation handling can also occur, as well as crossing sexual boundaries and not renewing licenses. Insurance companies encourage patients to report discrepancies.
The ethical behavior of many professionals is governed by codes of conduct. These codes tend to vary from industry to industry. Many regulations, while adapted for each sector, are similar, however. Common ethics violations include mismanagement of client funds, conflict of interest, and expired licenses.
Improper or fraudulent billing are ethical violations that can result in customers being charged for services they have not received. This occurs in the medical sector, as the party receiving the bill is often not the party receiving the services. The commonality of these ethics violations has led many insurance companies to provide a list of services to patients, encouraging them to report discrepancies.
There are several ways a professional can commit ethical violations related to the handling of client funds. A prime example is not placing client funds in a trust account, which is an account where funds are often held as deposits. Management of such accounts is often required for lawyers and real estate agencies. If they fail to do this and put client funds into personal or business accounts, they are usually in breach.
Many professionals are required to renew or update their licenses and certifications. This often requires courses to be taken or fees to be paid. For various reasons, many professionals do not renew their documents on time. Because many customers don’t check these things, these ethics violations often go undetected unless a regulatory body catches them.
Crossing sexual boundaries are ethical violations that differ from sexual harassment or sexual abuse. In these cases, both parties may be willing participants. However, something about the sexual relationship is inappropriate due to the professional’s position. This can be found in a mental health setting when a psychiatrist engages in a sexual relationship with a client they know is emotionally or sexually vulnerable.
Conflict of interest usually involves a professional violating his client’s trust or putting him at risk of harm as a result of his relationships with another individual. These situations can arise with lawyers or consultants. In these cases, they may provide information or engage in business with opposing parties that jeopardize their customers. A good example is a defense attorney who dates his client’s attorney.
Improper documentation handling can also be found in a number of industries. These include the financial, healthcare and legal sectors. Many of the documents and files handled by these professionals contain private and sensitive information. When such items are carelessly handled or not protected according to standards, people’s privacy, finances and safety can be compromised.
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