Written By: Jerome Fitts

This discussion examines how trust in healthcare providers connects to personal and professional ethics. If it is possible to read the following without being afraid to face the person in the mirror (yourself) while addressing those who are regulating your body. The health clinicians are not regulated and their ethical values are based on their price of their service. So why not ask them a few questions?

What is ethical awareness inventory and what does it consist of?

The importance of understanding your personal ethical perspective

My core values, shaped by influences from Ireland and North Africa, guide my trust in those who taught me right from wrong. Life’s experiences further reinforced my belief in doing the right thing, which aligns with my conscience.

If we are to be frank, as we dabble in different cultures, being dishonest is excused in certain countries, and that seems to be the battle for me. Either a person lies or they are honest. There are no excuses.

However, in 2025, as a society, we often feel that doing the right thing can lead us to less. In order to co-exist, we are challenged to survive yet suffer later based on the circle of influences that have conflicting or hypocritical ethical standards.

Where do we begin with this? It is fair to say that this week’s opening discussion post is only an introduction to a new self-evaluation based on what is required to read versus how we exemplify our genuine intentions and background. Just as my beloved George Michael wrote in 1990, we are praying for time. Do we cover our eyes when we are told to?

To validate my statements, I read in The Knowledge Academy, “Personal Ethics are moral principles that guide an individual’s decisions and actions based on their values, beliefs, and experiences” (TheKnowledgeAcademy, n.d.).

Analyze the relationship between personal and professional ethics in psychology.

Our ethics guide us based on our values and faith. The experience of those decisions we make daily has to be applied when we are within the circle of a professional field. This is why we should be hired or in a position to guide others, depending on a company, school, or commercial standards. If and when those who do not follow the guidelines are either excused or asked to leave.

Describe how your own ethical awareness relates to the concept of aspirational and enforceable standards.

First and foremost, the enforceable standards or rules within a professional setting. In our case (as a class studying psychology), the rules are written for the organization of practice. Our personal opinions should only be applied to examples through experience. However, the rules in written form (i.e., APA style) not only garner the trust of what is written as it is legible, but more importantly, they are followed.

The latter upholds the standards that validate the qualifications. For example, if and when a general practitioner is not qualified to continue giving advice or an extended prognosis, there should be a trusted referral.

The aspiration standard is the disposition of presenting oneself as authentic by following the rules and regulations (company/practice code of ethics). It is without question a convincing influence on which we are dependent.

Pertaining to our clinicians, it is a matter of trust over skill as we abide by the guidelines with discipline. The clients have to trust the clinician, just as we are to trust our learning lessons via our instructors. Those guidelines for the standards that have to be upheld are accountability, empathy, adaptability, confidentiality, and fairness with integrity. It is the civic duty of a professional as well as a moral compass within each individual. By defining and practicing these standards, we demonstrate reliability and ethical consistency, which is essential for professional trust (BibliU, n.d. pg 14).

References:

TheKnowledgeAcademy. (n.d.). Personal Ethics: Definition, Importance, and Examples. https://www.theknowledgeacademy.com/blog/personal-ethics/

georgemichaelVEVO. (2009, October 3). George Michael – Praying for Time (Official Video) [Video]. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=goroyZbVdlo

BibliU. (n.d.). BibliU – Reader. My App. https://bibliu.com/app/?bibliuMagicToken=rnF7tsF9UyEMgdNzJ994PhiW49k6noqC#/view/books/9781544362748/epub/OEBPS/s9781544362700.i1491.html#page_13

All photos taken and copyright controlled by Jerome Fitts. All rights reserved.2025

Photo 4 courtesy of “free use Facebook” 2025