Ethics In The Fire Service

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Ethics In The Fire Service

• Class 4

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Codifying Duty Ethical Perspective Codes of
Ethics

• Codes of ethics express expectations that apply
  to people and organizations.
• Convey how the public interest is advanced
• Asserts the kinds of values to advance in order
  to be true to the organizations purpose
• Codes of ethics generally have five kinds of
  statements (book describes 4.)

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Codifying Duty Ethical Perspective Codes of
Ethics

• 1. Dont statements
• Cover prohibited activities or behaviors
• 2. Obligations and responsibilities
• Set forth the things one must or should do
• 3. Virtues, personal qualities, values
• Describe how one should be

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Codifying Duty Ethical Perspective Codes of
Ethics

• 4. Aspirations, desirable conditions to promote
• General statement of aspiration, to be
  considered by peer fire department as a ..
• Example the Athenian oath page 75
• Review Ethics Statement Exercise

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Codifying Duty Ethical Perspective Codes of
Ethics

• Codes of ethics can be designed to be
• Regulatory (constrain)
• Educational (guide)
• Inspirational (set forth worthy goals)

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Codifying Duty Ethical Perspective Codes of
Ethics

• There are three objections codes of ethics
• Why should a ethics code be necessary? Ethics
  cannot be set by arbitrary order. Having a code
  contradicts the notion of ethical behavior in a
  organization.
• Codes focus on micro (internal success) rather
  than macro ethics (the greater good)
• How well can a code balance elevated ethical
  thinking with standards of conduct?

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Codifying Duty Ethical Perspective Codes of
Ethics

• A fundamental criticism is that ethics codes have
  no impact because they cannot be enforced. If it
  is left to the individual to decide to follow the
  code or not then the ideas of shared professional
  standards is meaningless.

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Codifying Duty Ethical Perspective Codes of
Ethics

• When analyzing a code of ethics look for
• Types of statements donts, virtue, etc
• Focus and scope rule or reflective
• Coverage comprehensive?
• Breadth and reach macro-ethical included
• Clarity of standards and behaviors

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Codifying Duty Ethical Perspective Codes of
Ethics

• What should be the purpose of a code
• Constrain, guide inspire
• Use as a means of enforcement
• States expatiations internal external
• Public administrators must do more to make the
  public aware that a ethics code exists and to
  demonstrate commitment to it.

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Codifying Duty Ethical Perspective Codes of
Ethics

• An ethical public servant needs a set of values
  and standards to commit themselves to.
• Developing your own is important not as a
  substitute for organizational ethics statements
  but complementary to it.
• Ethics Code Exercise This will help you develop
  character and professionalism beyond the norm or
  what is just expected.

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Undermining Duty

• The people that prowl the ethical depths of
  public service.
• Are there unethical people in the FD?
• If so what behaviors do they exhibit that
  reflects poor judgment of Duty in relation to
  Principle, Virtue, Consequence

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Undermining Duty

• Three sets of explanations for poor ethics
• Simply bad people in the organization
• Good people who are sometimes unethical
• People caught up in unethical circumstances

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Undermining Duty

• Three types of administrators by Paula Gordon
  (2003)
• No-ethics administrators (bad apples)
• Value-neutral administrator (ethical relativists)
  they emphasize legal compliance and avoidance of
  wrongdoing.
• Value-based ethicists see description on page 89
  

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Undermining Duty

• Three factors in corrupt behavior
• Incentive or the size of the benefit
• Opportunity ease of corrupt activity
• Risk the chance of getting caught
• How can these factors be mitigated in FDs so
  members arent tempted to do the unethical?

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Undermining Duty

• Bad people / Bad systems
• Most people are decent in government but we must
  also recognize that there are evil and dishonest
  people in government.
• More prevalent are those who lack integrity and
  take advantage for personal gain if they think no
  one will know.

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Undermining Duty

• Systemic corruption is a serious condition
• The norms of the system support individual
  corruption and those in the organization that are
  ethical are at risk
• Conditions in which systemic corruption is
  identified Gerald Caiden 1977 see page 91
• do any of these fit fire departments?

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Undermining Duty

• The bad person/bad system factors give some
  explanation for corruption but most ethical
  lapses are not committed by bad people.
• It is more common to find normal people who
  commit unethical actions.
• Why? What are the factors that lead to unethical
  behavior?

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Undermining Duty

• Factor 1 failing due to personal values not fully
  developed or applied people can have a lapse in
  ethical thinking (internal forces at play)
• Factor 2 unethical behavior shaped by
  circumstances (external forces at play)

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Undermining Duty

• Failures due to
• Shortcoming by normally good people
• Good reasons
• Bias or prejudice
• Ignorance lack of awareness
• Government context

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Undermining Duty

• Failure due to
• Circumstances
• Organizational advantage
• Conformity
• Anticipated actions of superiors
• Pressure or threat
• Following inappropriate orders

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Undermining Duty

• Following inapproperate orders
  
• Research study by Stanley Milgram 1974
• See additional statements page 102 3

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Undermining Duty

• Officials should not resign for frivolous reasons
  or refuse orders because they prefer a different
  approach or outcome.
• They must carefully weigh all the facts
  responsibilities, ethical perspectives, and
  options, and make reasoned and defensible choices.

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Undermining Duty

• Drawing on the ethics triangle, the presence of
  ethical strength is indicated (demonstrated ) by
  the commitment to advance the public interest, to
  pursue justice, to display character, and seek
  the greatest good.

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Undermining Duty

• We can overcome ethical challenges by drawing on
  a sense of duty, philosophical perspectives, and
  codes of ethics.
• To resolve how to act when confronting an ethical
  dilemma, careful consideration, deep reflection,
  and rigorous analysis are required.