A professional code of ethics provides guidelines for professional actions. In this activity, you will learn about AHIMA Code of Ethics and respond to case scenarios that require application of the code of ethics.

Jamez

25 Jun 2025 • 3 min read

Instructions

Refer to the AHIMA Code of Ethics.
Then carefully review each case scenario and identify which code was breached.
Summarize how the breach could have been avoided, and explain how each situation should be handled once a breach occurs.

1. Case Scenario

Your neighbor asks you whether they should consult Dr. Smith. You reply, "No! He doesn't have many cases at the hospital and his patients have a lot of complications after surgery. Go to Dr. Dodson; she's wonderful!"

2. Case Scenario

The hospital planned to buy new transcription equipment and evaluated the products of several companies. You believe that one product is the most suitable for the needs of the department, and you informed your administrator when your opinion was sought. After the equipment was purchased and installed, you received an expensive-looking day planner from the salesperson, given in gratitude for your help in influencing the hospital's choice. Since you really think that the filing equipment is the best, you accept this unexpected gift.

3. Case Scenario

You are in charge of the professional practice for students placed by a local college. You instruct students in a variety of duties. One day, you show two students some new equipment. The subject of the health of another student in the program comes up. You say, "Oh, just a minute, their emergency department record came into the department today; let's see what it says." You find the record and share its contents with the two students.

4. Case Scenario

A record was subpoenaed for production in court. You had not yet been placed on the stand and had the record in your possession when the noon recess was called. The attorney who had subpoenaed the record, and who had been unable to secure the patient's permission to review it, invites you to lunch. During lunch, they ask you to let them see the record, explaining that they will get the information anyhow once you are placed on the witness stand. They say that it will save time and expedite justice if you will let them have this quick "preview." You agree and pass the record to them.

5. Case Scenario

Someone with no experience has been employed to manage patient records in a small, neighborhood home health agency. They ask you for advice about what they should do. You, believing that you have more than enough to do attending to your own work, tell them you cannot help.

6. Case Scenario

You agree to supply a natural baby food service with the names and addresses of all mothers who delivered living infants in the hospital. For this service you will receive $5.00 per name.

7. Case Scenario

When applying for a fellowship in the American College of Surgeons, Dr. Monroe uses, as examples of their own surgical work, the cases of several patients who were actually cared for by a senior surgeon on the staff. You know that the young surgeon is eager to obtain the qualification, and you do not want to make trouble. When the list of cases is sent to the hospital for verification, you verify by your signature that these were Dr. Monroe's patients.

8. Case Scenario

Since doctors rarely use the disease index, and because you hope to be at a different job by the time of the next visit from the Joint Commission surveyor, you do not bother to make any entries in this index, believing that your other duties are more important.

9. Case Scenario

Returning from a meeting of the Tissue Committee, where you took notes, you excitedly inform the assistant department director, "You know Dr. Clark, the one who's always so ugly about completing their records? Well, the Committee said today that the big operation Dr. Clark did last month on a patient wasn't necessary at all, and the Committee is recommending that their surgical privileges be suspended!"

10. Case Scenario

You were sent to an educational institute by your hospital but decided to spend two of the four afternoons of the institute week shopping and sightseeing instead of attending the sessions.

11. Case Scenario

You notice a laboratory report that documents the patient as having a positive venereal disease research laboratory slide test, which screens for syphilis, so you add the diagnosis of "syphilis" to the face sheet of the patient's record.

12. Case Scenario

You notice that the patient record of another hospital employee is to be reviewed as part of your job. As you review the documentation, you notice that it references human immunodeficiency virus (HIV, which causes AIDS). You show the document to the employee sitting at the next desk and ask if they are aware of this information. You then return to your other tasks.

13. Case Scenario

You are an HIM professional at Sunny View Nursing Facility. Your neighbor asks you for the diagnoses of their mother's roommate. You reply by giving the neighbor the list of diagnoses.

14. Case Scenario

You were conducting an audit at a nursing facility on medication administration. You notice that your neighbor's father was late dosed three times the previous month. You share this with your neighbor.

15. Case Scenario

You completed the coding on your ex-sister-in-law's record, which states alcohol addiction. You share this information with the ex-spouse, who is seeking custody of their two children.

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