ABSTRACT
This chapter focuses on ease the reader into the spirit of what ethical behavior is all about, teaches how to differentiate legal and moral requirements and provides a description of the facts, rules, and guidelines that can help reader to make sound decisions. It presents an example, using a principle-guided decision-making process. The core of ethical decision making is derived from principles of religion and philosophy that are thousands of years old, focusing on respect and dignity toward others. To flesh out the idea of ethical decision making and ethical conflicts, the authors begin with vignettes of ethical dilemmas from everyday practice that are reality-based but have been modified to prevent recognition of any particular individuals. The topic of ethical behavior is fascinating, critical to the survival of profession and its public image, and often very frustrating. Practice guidelines are meant to help with more routine practice decisions although they cannot tell reader what happens when reader violate these guidelines.
