HOW ETHICAL ARE CODES OF ETHICS, OR DOES IT DEPEND UPON THE PROFESSION? A RESPONSE TO MCGEE1

Abstract

Consumers in the past have often had a difficult time in evaluating the services of professionals, such as accountants, medical doctors and lawyers. These professions, for various motives, have not historically advertised to the general public. Part of the reason for this lack of advertising can be attributed to their professional organizations. In the accounting field, the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants is the leading trade association. For attorneys, it is the American Bar Association, and for medical doctors, the American Medical Association. This study found that each of these three disciplines, and their respective professional trade associations, all have rules governing ethical behavior, especially where professional advertising and public relations practices are involved. This study, which contrasts the ethical tenants of these codes of ethics with Robert W. McGee’s Codes of Ethics can be Unethical, agreed with some of Dr.

McGee’s arguments and disagreed with others. Each of these groups has guidelines their respective governing organizations require, and they are designed to protect the practitioner as well as their clients. All of these codes of ethics appear to require ethical behavior by their respective memberships.