Ethical Behavior
In a 250-300 word response, relate an organizational example of the use or lack of
use of ethical standards in management communications. The example may be from
your own workplace or from a business situation with which you are familiar.
Support your answer by indicating why you believe it is an example of
communicating in an ethical manner and why you believe the decision was made to
communicate in the particular manner. Use references to validate your analysis.
Respond to at least two of your fellow students’ posts by commenting on the
examples they have given.
Ethical standards of communication refer to the process of sharing information in an honest,
forthright manner with clarity and transparency (Baack, 2012). An organization that does not have an
established code of conduct, which is openly shared with both its employees and leaders, has an
increased risk of unethical behavior. Business communication may involve sharing of internal
information or providing information to external customers. Unethical communication practices can
result in damage to the organization, employees, or the public exposed to a company’s services.
Health care organizations’ business practices are scrutinized by outside agencies including
government regulators, payors, and accrediting bodies. Medical research and organ donation
requires additional oversight to assure fairness and integrity. In 1997, the Cleveland Clinic was
implicated in what some called unethical practices with organ procurement. The source of the
information was a student and professor from a local university. The claims were reported on CBS 60
minutes program (Agich, 1999).
I believe the individuals from the university acted inappropriately by misleading the public
with incomplete information and manipulating that information to cause emotional responses to a
difficult topic. On the other hand, the Cleveland Clinic had well established protocols for organ
procurement. An updated protocol was being discussed and considered by the ethics
committee. Agich stated that the protocol “… was circulated widely in the institution and efforts were
made to involve all relevant parties in its discussion and development” (1999).
As a business, the Cleveland Clinic communicates with honesty and integrity to their
employees and patients. Open communication practices are an integral component to the
organization. Policies are in place to address electronic medical records, employee conduct, and
conflicts of interest issues. In-services and online programs discuss diversity and workplace
harassment to help employees learn effective methods of communicating.
References
Agich,G. J. (1999). From Pittsburgh to Cleveland: NHBD controversies and bioethics.
Cambridge Quarterly of Healthcare Ethics, 8, 269-274.
Baack, D. (2012). Managerial communication. San Diego, CA: Bridgeport Education, Inc.