| The 1999–2000 Medical Student Senate developed the following “Professional Conduct Code” (revised in 2002) to make clear students’ commitment to these principles. The Professional Conduct Code now serves as a guide for continuing discussion and reflection among students and faculty members regarding the nature of professional integrity and responsibility.
As members of Northwestern University’s Feinberg School of Medicine community we are entrusted with the care of human life. With this great privilege, we have an obligation to uphold the ideals and values of the medical profession. This Professional Conduct Code articulates the principles by which we will abide. By adopting these principles into our personal and professional lives, we will positively influence our present community at the School of Medicine and our future as professionals. We expect the teachers and learners of the medical school community to have the responsibility to foster a learning environment that promotes these principles and ensures that we can live by this code.
- My conduct toward colleagues, teachers, patients, and all health care professionals will be guided by the virtues of honesty, compassion, and personal integrity.
- I will treat all people equitably without regard to age, race, gender, religion, ethnicity, disability, social status, sexual orientation, or political ideology.
- Through my language, deportment, and appearance, I will present myself in a professional manner.
- I pledge to take care of myself physically and psychologically.
- Promoting and protecting a patient’s health, well-being, and dignity are my cardinal duties.
- I will keep all information that I receive about patients in confidence from anyone outside the medical team.
- I will respect the directives of my superiors, but I will question any directives that endanger the health or well-being of a patient or are contrary to a patient’s wishes.
- I will not give a false impression of my medical knowledge and skill, nor will I allow anyone to believe my role is anything other than that of a medical student.
- I will not exploit patients or their families for personal or financial gain.
- I will act in a manner that promotes mutual respect and cooperation in the medical school community.
- I will abide by the School of Medicine’s policies and procedures.
- I am committed to the improvement of our medical school and myself through communication and evaluation.
- I will support an atmosphere conducive to learning and assist my colleagues in meeting their professional obligations as well.
- In all my academic examinations and assignments I will neither give nor receive impermissible assistance.
- I pledge to maintain this code, to discourage its violation, and to report any infraction.
The faculty of Northwestern University’s Feinberg School of Medicine has adopted this guiding principle for the design, implementation, and evaluation of the components of the education program. | |
