Professional ethics revisited

The word ‘ethics’ or the term ‘code of ethics’ are now talk of the town as daily newspapers become replete with mention of either of them. There are two issues which, although not related to each other, have a common factor: ethics or, rather, a lack of it.

Drawing up a code of ethics is not enough

In the first instance, the Labour Government is being lambasted by the Opposition in its tweaking of the 20-year old code of ethics that binds public officers such as ministers and parliamentary secretaries. The issue refers to the Prime Minister granting ‘a limited waiver’ allowing Franco Mercieca to carry on practising his profession as an ophthalmologistwhen, at the same time, holding a public office.

While recognising that his area of specialisation might be ‘unique’, he was well aware that he will have to choose between being a medical practitioner and forming part of Cabinet. Surely, he cannot have the cake and eat it. Having said that, what bothers me is that the issue is now moving into the ground of his professional association, with its president, Thomas Fenech, threatening to report the uniqueness issue to the Medical Council.

In the second instance, Rita Schembri will soon face disciplinary action by the Public Service Commission post the revelations made in a report drawn by a special board headed by the Auditor General. In particular, the report specifically mentions that Schembri gave false evidence to the board while under oath and also profiting from the public office she occupied for her own personal advancement.

It is appropriate to remember that Schembri was, up to last October, the previous Nationalist government’s permanent secretary in charge of internal audit. As a certified public accountant, I envisage that she will also be subjected to disciplinary action by the Accountancy Board and by the professional association she falls under, namely, the Malta Institute of Accountants.

When I hear of such incidents I become irritated. Knowing that a one-time University colleague is involved makes me worry and, yes, hurt too.

With regards to Mercieca’s case, I hope there are no personal grudges involved and that the arguments remain on a professional level. In contrast, Schembri’s case, just like that of the judges in 2002, hit deep and undermine the public’s trust in members of the respective professions, let alone setting a good example for would-be accountants and lawyers.

So what is the lesson here?

Drawing up a code of ethics, continuously updating it and making members aware of them is good but it is not enough. As a full-time member of the academic staff within the Department of Accountancy at the University of Malta, such incidents make me think and reflect on what the curricula is offering to ensure better practitioners in the future.

Occasionally, students of mine grumble that the business ethics unit is useless to them. While I beg to differ, it could possibly be the case that the content of the course unit does not fulfil the expectations of what an ethics module for accountants should provide.

Given the incidents mentioned above, even within other professions, it is essential to ensure that students get good grounding in what is expected of them by the public, especially after they get the certified public accountant warrant.

At the end of the day, though, it will always be the good example we instil in students, so any discovery of wrongdoing will be tantamount to betraying their trust.

Ivan Grixti lectures Financial Accounting at the University of Malta and will be contesting for MEP in May 2014.