Professional Ethics (part 9)

Fees


The professional fees should be a fair reflection of the value of the work performed for the client,taking into account:
(a)The skill and knowledge required for the type of work involved.

(b)The level of training and experience of the person necessarily engaged in the work.

(c)The time necessarily occupied by each person engaged in the work.

(d)The degree of responsibility and urgency that the work entails.

All above is to avoid undercutting which could lead to a compromise or lower of the professional standards.

However,there are exception where are member may charge a charitable bodies and non-profit organisation low professional fees or no fees at all provided there is no elements of any inducement to secure professional work by such action.

Special fees by regular clients,staff,retiring person,wodow,etc. is exempted from the above restriction.

Generally is to discourage the payment or acceptance commission (for a referral) in their dealing as such practice may lead to a compromise in ethical and professional standards.

Professional Ethics (part 8)

Advertising,Publicity and Solicitation


Advertising is the use of various media,such as magazine,radio etc to communicate favourable information about the services provided by the profession.
Publicity may be similarly defined.
Solicitation is try to obtain/meet the clients to explain about our services,by offering seminar,course etc

Advertising in general is not permitted
~Code of ethic prohibit members from advertising by any means.
~Can issuing circular to client/person with whom there has already been established a professional connection.
~Allowed to publish name and adress for purposes eg advertisement for vacancies,for sale of business/ property,announcement a change of address and telephone numbers,etc
~Must ensure 'business card' or 'stationary practice' or 'name plate' do not include a claim that a member is a specialist in any particular aspect of public practice is prohibited.
~Conducting seminar and publising article for the purpose of knowledge may be acceptable,provide such activities  not to deliberate promotion.
~Allowed to send greetings card or special occasion eg happy new year etc.

Method of practice
Practitioner in specific profession must registered with certain council before practice legally.

Professional Ethics (part 7)

Competence and due care


Competence requirement means that a member should have formal education in certain profession,adequate practical experience for the work being performed,and continuing professional education.

Due care means that the member is a professional responsible in fulfilling duties diligently and carefully.It  also implies that the professional should observe the professional's technical and ethical standards,strive continually to improve competence and the quality of services through Continuing Professional Development (CPD) and discharge professional responsibility to the best of his ability.

CPD is necessary because of the rapid changes and expansion in the knowledge that is required of professional in order them to discharge their professional obligation effectively and responsibly.These changes and increased public expectation of the work of profession have increasing demands on the profession and it is every member responsibility to ensure that their knowledge is kept up to date.

Participation of every member in a programme of CPD is therefore vital in maintaining high standards and public confidence in the profession.

A CPD programme normally comprises:
1.Structured CPD learning may be obtain through courses,conference,seminarsor from post-graduate studies.
2.Unstructured CPD learning includes private study,technical research  for practical work.

Professional Ethics (part 6)

Professional Independence

Professional people(eg doctor,lawyer,architect,optometrist etc) is expected to have integrity,objectivity,to observe professional standards and to act in the public interest.
Professional people need be concerned about professional independence.
The following is the statement on professional independence:
(set out in by the law);

#professional independence is a concept fundamental to the certain profession.It is essentially an attitude of mind characterized by integrity and an objective approach to professional work

#all member(in public practice or not) should be,and be seen to be,free in each professional assignment he undertakes,of any interest which might distract from objectivity.The fact that this is self evident in the exercise of the reporting function must not obscure its relevance in respect of other profesiional work.

Independence means taking 'unbiassed viewpoint' in the performance,evaluation.
Independence in fact.
Independence in appearance.

The concept of independence is abstract and can easily be misinterpreted or manipulated.

"No member shall give any assistance or his services by the use of his name or in any other manner to advance or promote any illegal activity of the client"
 

Professional Ethics (part 5)

Fundamental  Principles
-are drawn from a duties of professional whether in public service or not.
-they are frame in broad and general terms and constitute basic guidance on professional behaviour, as follow:
#In accepting or continuing a professional assignment or occupation,a member should always have regard to any factors which reflect adversely  upon his integrity and objectivity in relation to that assignment and occupation.

#A member should carry out his professional work with a proper regard for the technical and professional standard expected of him as a member and should not undertake or continue professional work which he is not himself competent to perform unless he obtains such advice and assistance as will enable him competently to carry out the work.



#A member should conduct himself with courtesy and consideration towards all with whom he comes into contact in the course of his professional work.

#A member should follow the ethical guidance of the professional body/goverment and in circumstances not provided for by the guidance should conduct himself in a manner consistent with the good reputation of the profession.

The fundamental principles cover the quality of integrity,objectivity,competency and professionalism expected of practitioners.

~Integrity means adherence to moral & ethical principles,or simply honesty.
~Objectivity means impartially in performing all services
~Professionalism means professional standards emphasizes the importance of possessing the necessary skills and proficiency to carry out the professional work.

The principles set out yhe overriding requirement that as a professional,a member must all times perform his/her work objectively and impartially and be free from influence by any consideration which might appear to be in conflict with this requirement.
The fundamental principles also define a member's duties to the public ,the clients,employers,duties to the profession,and fellow members of the profession.

Professional Ethics (part 4)

Code of Conduct

A code of conduct can be consist of general statements of ideal conduct or specific rules that define unacceptable behaviour.

The advantage of general statements is the emphasis on positive activities that encourages a high level of performance.The advantage is the difficulty  of enforcing general ideas because there are no minimum standard of behaviour
The advantage of carefully defined specific rules is the enforceability of minimum behaviour and performance standard.
The disadvantages is the tendency of some practitioners to define the rules as maximum rather than minimum standards.

Topic on Professional Conduct and Ethics include:

~Interpretation
~Fundamental principle
~Professional independence
~Competence and due care
~Method of practice
~Description and designing letters
~Advertising,publicity and solicitation in respect
~Attention to correspodence and enquiries
~Fees and discount/commission
~Confidentiality
~Changes in professional appointments
~Referrals
~Documents/prospectus
~Incapacity or death of practitioner
~Acts discreditable to the profession
~Representation by member in professional affaires
~Restriction of use of certain word
~Training
~Professional indemnity insurance

Professional Ethics (part 3 )

Special need for ethical conduct in profession


~Professionals are expected to conduct themselves at a higher level than most other members of society.
~The term 'professional' means are responsibility for conduct that extends beyond satisfying individual responsibilities and beyond the requirement of our society's law and regulation.
~We, as a  professional,have a reponsibility to the public,to a fellow practitioners,including honorable behaviour,even if that means personal sacrifice.
~The underlying reason for a high level of professional conduct any profession is the need for public confidence
in the quality service by  the profession,regardless of the individual  providing it.
~If public do not confidence in your service,the ability of those professional to serve the clients and the public effectively is diminished.
~Public confidence in the quality of professional services is enhanced when the profession encourages high standards of performance and conduct on the part of all practitioners.
~But because of increased competition has made it more difficult to any professionals to conduct themselves
in a professional mannars.
~So must improved business practices e.g improve personal practices,better office management,more effective promotional methods,effective advertising

Ways the profeesion and society encourage professional to conduct themselves at a high level:
-conduct of practice personnel need;
  1.entrance qualification
  2.continuing professional education
  3.legal liability
  4.professional conduct and ethics
  5.investigation and discipline committee
  6.standard of practice(auditing)
  7.legislation
  8.quality control.