Ethical Guidelines
All interns will comply with state laws concerning their profession, ethical guidelines for their profession, and the policies and ethical standards of Stanford Hospital and Clinics and Stanford Medicine Outpatient.
- The intern will show concern for the well-being and dignity of all patients regardless of their race, country of origin, disability, age, socioeconomic status, religion or gender. This includes establishing and maintaining objective relationships with all persons served.
- All information about and from the patients will be treated as confidential and privileged information, in accordance with the policies of Stanford Hospitals and Clinics.
- The intern will comply with the laws and policies of their profession and Stanford Hospital and Clinics, including the Stanford Hospital Code of Conduct.
- The intern will function within competency parameters and ethical guidelines set by their profession.
- The intern will provide the patients with accurate information about services provided, including representing their training honestly, so that the patient may effectively participate in decision-making regarding their treatment.
- The intern will not use any form of false or deceptive information. This includes providing clear, truthful, accurate and unaltered statements to patients and others. Interns will not provide information to patients in areas outside their expertise.
- The intern will act in a professional manner when relating with peers and other professionals. This includes crediting colleagues when using contributions of information, and representing the profession respectfully.
- The intern will not behave or be involved in any activity that is in conflict with the interest with the profession and/or with the standards set by Stanford Hospital and Clinics.
- The closeness of the relationship between yourself as an intern and patients and their families will challenge you to define an appropriate level of involvement. Any of the following may indicate an improper balance and should be avoided: visiting patients after regular work hours, participating in non-hospital sponsored social activities with patients and families, sharing personal problems with patients and their families, and offering gifts to or accepting gift from patients. If you find you are having trouble distinguishing the proper level of involvement for you to maintain with the patients and families, talk to your clinical instructor or the clinical education coordinator.