ABSTRACT
This chapter addresses the ethical obligations of the mentor, the fiduciary in any academic relationship. Mentoring relationships are enduring, complex, emotionally connected fiduciary relationships. The mentor carries a moral and ethical obligation to ensure that the mentee's best interests are served by the relationship. The mentors must be especially cautious about exploiting mentees' sense of obligation to their mentor. Ethical mentors assume responsibility for benefiting mentees, avoiding harm, protecting mentee autonomy, remaining loyal, protecting mentee privacy, and acting with fairness and prudence at all times. Aware of ethical risks accruing in any professional relationship, the mentor is careful to ensure one's competence in the mentor role, establish and maintain appropriate personal boundaries with mentees, watch for emotional or sexual attraction.
