Legal Definitions - unethical

Unethical

Unethical describes actions, decisions, or behaviors that violate accepted moral principles or fail to meet the established standards of conduct expected within a particular profession or community.

Here are some examples:

• Misleading a Client: A car salesperson knowingly conceals significant mechanical issues from a potential buyer to ensure a quick sale. This is unethical because it violates the moral principle of honesty and the professional expectation to provide accurate information to customers.
• Breaching Patient Confidentiality: A nurse discusses a patient's private medical information with a friend outside of work. This action is unethical as it breaches the strict professional standards of confidentiality required in healthcare, which are in place to protect patient privacy and trust.
• Using Insider Information: An executive at a company learns that their firm is about to announce a major acquisition, which will significantly increase the company's stock price. Before the public announcement, the executive buys a large number of shares for personal profit. This is unethical because it exploits privileged information for personal gain, violating principles of fairness and the professional standards of financial markets.