Medical ethics and professional norms: The tale of two medical centers in Taiwan

We usually believe that professional ethics influences the behavior of professionals. However, does the adoption of a professional code of ethics and the teaching of professional ethics necessarily lead to ethical behavior? Two very different economic behaviors among Taiwanese physicians at two medical centers offer an interesting case to examine how institutions transform identical professional ethics into different professional norms. We argue that it is these norms that play a critical role in influencing the conduct of professionals.