Volume 49, Issue 2 (9-2025)
Research in Medicine 2025, 49(2): 70-82 |
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Rajabi Z, Farhid F, Nikmanesh B. Ethics in Medical Diagnostic Laboratories: A Necessity for Quality Improvement- A Narrative Review. Research in Medicine 2025; 49 (2) :70-82
URL: http://pejouhesh.sbmu.ac.ir/article-1-3478-en.html
URL: http://pejouhesh.sbmu.ac.ir/article-1-3478-en.html
Zoonoses Research Center, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran. & 3. Department of Laboratory Sciences, School of Allied Medical Sciences, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran. , b-nikmanesh@tums.ac.ir
Abstract: (474 Views)
Background and Aim: Medical diagnostic laboratories play a vital role in public health, and adherence to professional ethics is essential for ensuring service quality, patient trust, and system safety. This study aimed to review professional ethical standards in diagnostic laboratories as a necessity for quality improvement.
Methods: This narrative review was conducted by searching Scopus, PubMed, Web of Science, and Google Scholar for articles published between 2000 and 2024 using specialized keywords. Out of 74 retrieved sources, 22 articles met the inclusion criteria and were analyzed thematically based on ethical codes from Iran, IFBLS, and WHO.
Results: Ethics are a fundamental and inseparable component of medicine and related sciences. Defined as “moral principles,” ethics are essential across all fields. The ethical framework governing laboratory tests prioritizes patient safety, individual autonomy and dignity, and the preservation of professional integrity. Ethical principles were analyzed across three dimensions: bioethical principles, laboratory process stages, and stakeholders (including patients, colleagues, and society). Key indicators included respect, beneficence, confidentiality, justice, informed consent, accountability, and avoidance of conflicts of interest.
Conclusion: Emphasizing ethical considerations is crucial for the professional development of diagnostic laboratories. Training and related practices are vital for enhancing the skills of laboratory personnel, which in turn improves the quality of laboratory services. Ethically, no discrimination should occur in the provision of laboratory services. Clients must be informed of their legal rights and the confidentiality principles upheld within laboratory settings. Upholding professional ethics strengthens service quality, public trust, and equity in healthcare. Implementing ethical guidelines, continuous training, and structured oversight are essential strategies in this regard.
Methods: This narrative review was conducted by searching Scopus, PubMed, Web of Science, and Google Scholar for articles published between 2000 and 2024 using specialized keywords. Out of 74 retrieved sources, 22 articles met the inclusion criteria and were analyzed thematically based on ethical codes from Iran, IFBLS, and WHO.
Results: Ethics are a fundamental and inseparable component of medicine and related sciences. Defined as “moral principles,” ethics are essential across all fields. The ethical framework governing laboratory tests prioritizes patient safety, individual autonomy and dignity, and the preservation of professional integrity. Ethical principles were analyzed across three dimensions: bioethical principles, laboratory process stages, and stakeholders (including patients, colleagues, and society). Key indicators included respect, beneficence, confidentiality, justice, informed consent, accountability, and avoidance of conflicts of interest.
Conclusion: Emphasizing ethical considerations is crucial for the professional development of diagnostic laboratories. Training and related practices are vital for enhancing the skills of laboratory personnel, which in turn improves the quality of laboratory services. Ethically, no discrimination should occur in the provision of laboratory services. Clients must be informed of their legal rights and the confidentiality principles upheld within laboratory settings. Upholding professional ethics strengthens service quality, public trust, and equity in healthcare. Implementing ethical guidelines, continuous training, and structured oversight are essential strategies in this regard.
Keywords: Professional ethics, Diagnostic laboratory, Informed consent, Confidentiality, Quality of services
Type of Study: Review |
Subject:
Interdisciplinary (Educational Management, Educational research, Statistics, Medical education
Received: 2025/07/14 | Accepted: 2025/08/2 | Published: 2025/12/13
Received: 2025/07/14 | Accepted: 2025/08/2 | Published: 2025/12/13
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