2.4 Professional ethics

A culture can be described as a superordinate community of values. It very fundamentally orientates the moral thinking and actions of the community as a whole. Within a culture there can be various special morals that have developed or evolved due to the specific characteristics of sub-communities. In relation to different professions, we can speak here of a professional ethics.

Example

For certain groups of people, for example, one could speak of a "civil servant ethic", a "self-employed ethic" or perhaps also a "student ethic".

The respective morals of a professional group regulate in a more or less concrete way how one should behave as a member of this professional group. Even a gang of robbers, a mafia or a clan can be said to have morals, because these communities also follow rules that apply to their members and are enforced. Think, for example, of the commandment not to betray others or the moral duty to support the "family". The vernacular uses the term "gangster's honour" here, which to a certain extent represents the professional ethos of a career criminal.

Over time, different morals have developed for different professional groups. The respective ethos that applies to members of a profession therefore expresses the values that should apply to this group. They are binding, i.e. it is expected that the members of this group are committed to the moral demands that the profession entails.

Example

Hippocratic Oath

Probably the best-known example of the moral standards of a professional group is the Hippocratic Oath. Members of the medical profession commit themselves to it. It is not known exactly who wrote the oath in its original form. However, it goes back by name to the Greek physician Hippocrates. He is said to have lived and worked around 2500 years ago. Even in its original version, the oath formulated the service of humanity as its central moral imperative. The currently valid version of this medical vow is the "Declaration of Geneva". It has been adapted to modern times and was updated by the World Medical Association (WMA) in 2017. It ends with the promise "I solemnly swear this, freely and on my honour". The oath thus indicates that its violation is a moral transgression. Correspondingly the doctor in question is dishonoured and discredited in the community of values. After all, the oath was taken voluntarily and has a self-binding character. This can also be seen in the formulation "I will ...".

in depth

From: WMA (2017) WMA17, Official English translation of the Declaration of Geneva

Declaration of Geneva

AS A MEMBER OF THE MEDICAL PROFESSION:

I SOLEMNLY PLEDGE to dedicate my life to the service of humanity;

THE HEALTH AND WELL-BEING OF MY PATIENT will be my first consideration;

I WILL RESPECT the autonomy and dignity of my patient;

I WILL MAINTAIN the utmost respect for human life;

I WILL NOT PERMIT considerations of age, disease or disability, creed, ethnic origin, gender, nationality, political affiliation, race, sexual orientation, social standing or any other factor to intervene between my duty and my patient;

I WILL RESPECT the secrets that are confided in me, even after the patient has died;

I WILL PRACTISE my profession with conscience and dignity and in accordance with good medical practice;

I WILL FOSTER the honour and noble traditions of the medical profession;

I WILL GIVE to my teachers, colleagues, and students the respect and gratitude that is their due;

I WILL SHARE my medical knowledge for the benefit of the patient and the advancement of healthcare;

I WILL ATTEND TO my own health, well-being, and abilities in order to provide care of the highest standard;

I WILL NOT USE my medical knowledge to violate human rights and civil liberties, even under threat;

I MAKE THESE PROMISES solemnly, freely, and upon my honour.

There are no universal moral standards of the professional international mining industry. Given the two and a half millennia that lie between Hippocrates and today's mining professionals, this is hardly surprising. Nevertheless, numerous efforts are being made to establish moral imperatives and voluntary self-commitments in the raw material sector. These efforts include creating and implementing standards, guidelines, and best practices by various organizations. These aim to reduce or manage the social, environmental, and economic impacts of mining. One significant association is the International Council of Mining and Metals (ICMM), to which over 20 leading mining and metal companies belong. In 2003, the ICMM defined ten mining principles for sustainable development to promote ethical corporate governance, environmental responsibility, social performance, and respect for human rights. These are formulated as follows:

in depth

From: International Council of Mining and Metals (2003) IC03

Mining Principles

• Ethical Business: Apply ethical business practices and sound systems of corporate governance and transparency to support sustainable development.
• Decision Making: Integrate sustainable development in corporate strategy and decision-making processes.
• Human Rights: Respect human rights and the interests, cultures, customs and values of workers and communities affected by our activities.
• Risk Management: Implement effective risk-management strategies and systems based on sound science and which account for stakeholder perceptions of risks.
• Health and Safety: Pursue continual improvement in physical and psychological health and safety performance with the ultimate goal of zero harm.
• Environmental Performance: Pursue continual improvement in environmental performance issues, such as water stewardship, energy use and climate change.
• Conversation of Biodiversity: Contribute to the conservation of biodiversity and integrated approaches to land-use planning.
• Responsible Production: Facilitate and support the knowledgebase and systems for responsible design, use, re-use, recycling and disposal of products containing metals and minerals.
• Social Performance: Pursue continual improvement in social performance and contribute to the social, economic and institutional development of host countries and communities.
• Stakeholder Engagement: Proactively engage key stakeholders on sustainable development challenges and opportunities in an open and transparent manner. Effectively report and independently verify progress and performance.

Just as the Hippocratic Oath of the medical profession has changed over time, so have the Mining Principles. For instance, in June 2022, the ICMM Mining Principles were critically revised to eliminate harassment and unfair discrimination and achieve gender equity in this industry sector. Further adjustments seem likely in the future: In August 2024 the ICMM has issued a position statement on commitments towards indigenous people and effects on their lives.