But business ethics is not just about the bottom line. Businesses must also balance obligations to shareholders and customers. Some of these duties have been neglected too easily by some highly visible health care companies, which have already paid with their reputations or cash or both. More are likely to fall. Medical ethics is not legal compliance, which is the least anyone should do, not the most.
Ethics stands on the floor of law.
Missouri, Texas and Florida passed new laws in each of these three areas. Grievance procedures and appeals committees are coming to represent medical ethics in managed care. Business ethics is not just legal compliance either. Sure, some of the best corporate ethics programs in the country were spurred by federal and state investigations. Sure, Tenet Healthcare's toll-free ethics number receives more than 500 calls monthly.