title: Codes and character: the pillars of professional ethics.
abstract: Historically, the ethics of a professional were the ethics of a gentleman. The social changes in the 1960s, where citizens asked for a greater voice in all affairs that affected them gave rise to formal approaches to ethics in the health fields. Principle-based and case-based reasoning have been dominant. Neither codes nor approaches based on virtue (the character of the professional) are perfect solutions in all cases, but professions are strengthened through the development and discussion of statements about ethical conduct.
authors.affiliation: Dalhousie University.
authors.forename: N P
authors.initials: NP
authors.lastname: Kenny
mesh_terms: D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D001675:Bioethics / Q000266:history; D002605:Character; D003219:Confidentiality; D003657:Decision Making; D003812:Dentist-Patient Relations; D004990:Ethics, Dental; D004995:Ethics, Professional / Q000266:history; D005610:Freedom; D006625:Hippocratic Oath; D049673:History, 20th Century; D049690:History, Ancient; D006801:Humans; D007400:Interprofessional Relations; D009014:Morals; D010685:Philosophy, Dental; D010686:Philosophy, Medical; D010817:Physician-Patient Relations; D012922:Social Change; D012945:Social Values