Ethics and laws guide our behavior. Ethics are the knowledge of right and wrong. An ethical person has a sense of duty and responsibility toward others. He or she always tries to do what is right.
If ethics tell us what we should do, laws tell us what we must do. Laws are usually based on ethics. Governments establish laws to help people live peacefully together and to ensure order and safety. When someone breaks the law, he or she may be punished by having to pay a fine or spend time in prison.
Ethics and laws are extremely important in health care. They protect people receiving care and guide people giving care. Home health aides and other healthcare providers should be guided by a code of ethics. They must know the laws that apply to their jobs.