What is the primary purpose of professional ethics codes in healthcare?

• A. To restrict innovation.
• B. To guide behavior, protect patients, and maintain trust in the profession.
• C. To increase paperwork only.
• D. To define salary structures.

Answer: (B)

Professional ethics codes in healthcare establish how clinicians should behave and handle difficult decisions, setting a standard for practice. Their main purpose is to protect patients by promoting safety, confidentiality, informed consent, and respect for autonomy, while also sustaining public trust in the profession. These codes provide a clear framework for accountability and ethical decision-making, helping providers navigate conflicts between competing duties. They are not about restricting innovation or defining salaries; those aspects lie outside the core aim of guiding ethical conduct and patient welfare.