JCHP Honor Code

The JCHP honor code was implemented in the fall of 2007 with new students. Students were asked to read, sign and return the document to the Office of Student Affairs, Edison Building, Room 709.

Thomas Jefferson University

Jefferson College of Health Professions

Statement of Professional Conduct/Honor Code

Preamble:

The faculty of Thomas Jefferson University affirms its deep commitment to the values and ethical standards of the health professions. These principles involve our conduct with patients and one another where honesty, morality, integrity, civility, altruism, and compassion are the rule. By embracing the values and standards of conduct of health professionals, we maintain our contract with society and the trust that grants us professional autonomy and the privilege of self regulating our professions.

General Principles of Professionalism in the Health Professions:

At this time when the health professions are beset by an explosion of technology, changes in market forces, serious problems in health care delivery, conflicts of interest, and the threat of bioterrorism, the Faculty of Thomas Jefferson University reaffirms its commitment to professionalism. Understanding that at their core, the health professions place the welfare of the patient above self interest, we accept our responsibility to educate future health professionals in the values and ethical standards of medical professionalism. We acknowledge that we can best achieve this by serving as strong role models and advocates while maintaining professional relationships based on mutual respect and concern. We must promote an atmosphere of cooperation and learning, of intellectual openness, honesty, and sincerity in order to constantly protect and redefine and make meaningful our core values and covenant of trust with society.

The Core Values of Thomas Jefferson University:

At Jefferson, we are committed to the highest principles of professionalism. We aspire to be a community that is not only academically and fiscally successful, but also a community of discovery, learning, caring, and sharing. The core values of professionalism guide our actions. At Jefferson:

• Our word is our bond (Integrity)
• We respect each other and all with whom we come into contact (Respect)
• We care about and attempt to ameliorate the suffering and pain of illness; we care about and attempt to ameliorate the trials and tribulations of the Jefferson family (Compassion)
• We are committed to excellence and the life-long pursuit of new knowledge and personal and professional growth (Excellence)
• We aspire to do the right thing, for the right reason, even if it does not serve our personal interests (Altruism)
• We are committed to each other and to those we serve. We work together to achieve our mission and goals (Collaboration)
• We are committed to the prudent use of the resources made available to us by the hard work of the faculty, the tuition of our learners, the support of the public, and the philanthropic giving that sustains us and helps us grow (Stewardship)

Professionalism in the Teacher-Student Relationship:

The Faculty of Thomas Jefferson University is committed to principles of mutual respect and trust between teachers and students. Training future health professionals who are entrusted with the lives of others must be based on faculty members embodying the values of professionalism. A critical part of the values of professionalism in the teacher-student relationship is that faculty members should not use their professional position to engage in relationships outside the professional realm with students or patients. Faculty members should be role models and mentors in their interaction with each other, students, nursing staff and other health professionals, as well as patients. In all of these relationships, faculty members act to enhance the learning experience based on shared professional values.

Shared Professional Values of Thomas Jefferson University:

In entering the health professions, and in the process of crafting future health professionals as students and educators, we recognize the implicit trust that patients and society have granted us. As such, we must commit to embodying the highest standards of civility, honesty, and integrity in all aspects of our personal and professional lives. This must include our interpersonal relationships, our academic pursuits, and our professional practices. We must treat everyone compassionately, and respect and protect his or her privacy, dignity, and individuality.

As part of the trust that society has placed in us, we must advocate for outstanding patient care for all people. Accordingly, we must always recognize those attitudes and values of ours that may limit our ability to do so.

As health professionals, we must also recognize limitations in our knowledge and skills, and accordingly, we must accept our duty to provide and receive constructive feedback with the goal of improving our ability to care for our patients. This eagerness to improve is central to our commitment to excellence, and will be the foundation upon which we build our practice of lifelong learning.

Faculty Self-Regulation:

As part of their contract with society, the health professions are given the privilege of self-regulation. As part of self-regulation, faculty must contribute to the spirit and principles of the Thomas Jefferson University Honor Code. The faculty must have individual and corporate responsibility to uphold the Honor Code.

The Thomas Jefferson University Honor Code

As Jefferson students and faculty, we seek to establish a community based on honor, integrity and awareness of others. Our commitment to this community begins with our first day of professional or educational association with Thomas Jefferson University when we sign a pledge to uphold the values and rules of the Honor Code that follows:

As faculty members, residents, fellows and students, we pledge to embrace the academic and social integrity on which Jefferson was founded, pursuing honesty, equality and fairness in all aspects of our lives. This includes not seeking an unfair advantage over our peers, teachers, students, residents, fellows or any other member of the Thomas Jefferson University community. These goals are dependent on our personal concern for ourselves and one another, as well as our collective concern for the maintenance of the community standards that are reflected in the Code.

The Honor Code assumes that all faculty, residents, fellows, and students conduct themselves in an ethical and professional manner. Altruism, accountability, commitment to excellence, duty to serve, honor, integrity and respect for others are essential characteristics of a health professional. In addition, the code is dependent on the collective desire of all members of the academic community to prevent and deter violations, rather than on proceedings to impose penalties after violations have occurred. If violations do occur within this system, each member of the community is expected to support and uphold all aspects of the code.

• Community - A goal of each member of the University is to foster an environment of trust and cooperation with respect for the work and efforts of others. When we speak of community we imply the student body, the faculty, the staff, and the administration, each of which contributes to the combined concept of community.

• Academic Integrity - We seek to enhance our professional knowledge and achieve excellence in our time spent at Jefferson but not at the cost of honesty, integrity and trust, all integral aspects to the development of a health professional.

• Social Integrity - Jefferson is dependent on equality among all its members, regardless of race, culture, religion, gender, age, disability or sexual orientation. Every individual should be treated with equal respect by their peers, faculty and staff.

• Responsibility - All members of the University must be willing and encouraged to discuss with their peers and all members of the community any action or issue that appears to be unacceptable and take the necessary actions in a timely manner to address the situation. The failure to deal with the breach in professional conduct not only jeopardizes the strength of the code but also puts the observer in direct violation of the code.

• Mediation - Resources exist for students, faculty members and staff to meet with other people within the Jefferson community to work out any differences and disagreements with the help of a third party. If these efforts fail to reach a resolution, further resources through official University channels can be used to review any disagreement and determine the appropriate course of action.

Statement of Affirmation

I have read, and I understand, the Thomas Jefferson University Statement of Professional Conduct. I shall conduct myself in a manner consistent with the TJU Honor Code.

I understand that I am responsible for my own actions as well as for upholding the integrity of my profession.

Print Name: ________________________________

Signed: ____________________________________

Date: ______________________________________

School/Department:  _________________________