Article From NAPR: Ethical Issues In Physician Recruiting Today

THIS ARTICLE PROVIDED BY RICH CORNELL AS PRESIDENT OF THE NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF PHYSICIAN RECRUITERS

Ethical – adj. 2: conforming to accepted standards of social or professional behavior; 3: adhering to ethical and moral principles; [syn: honorable, moral]

According to the above definition, to be ethical is not only to conform to accepted standards of social or professional behavior, but to be moral, to conduct oneself with honor. Indeed, the most important aspect of the NAPR, is its Code of Ethics. Our adherence to a strict code of acceptable behavior in our practices among one another and with our clients and candidates, is a critical element to the success and growth of the physician recruiting industry—wherein, a failure to perform ethically, even by one individual, can negatively affect the morale and reputation of our entire organization and profession.

A variety of ethical problems crop up from time to time in the physician recruiting field. Some unethical practices are by recruiters, some by candidates and some by clients. The most common of these are outlined below:

Unethical Behaviors of Recruiters

-Stealing data for ones personal gain from the NAPR website or world job bank;
-Violating candidate confidentiality by sending CVs to clients without a candidate’s permission;
-Recruiting candidates from an active client;
-Failing to honor contracts;
-Saying negative things about one client to another client; and
-Procuring Cause (that firm which properly submits a candidate’s CV first and which provides continuous supportive activity, which leads to a placement).

Unethical Behaviors of Physicians

Some behavior reported by recruiters concerning physicians is unethical, but unenforceable by the NAPR. For example:

-When physicians do not pay attention to who sends out their CV, to where their CV is sent or when they don’t remember if their CV had been submitted to a particular opportunity by someone else;
-When physicians hide information or give inaccurate or false information. An example is when there are date gaps on the CV or when gaps are filled in with incorrect dates;
-When physicians do not call recruiters back after interviews or respond in a timely way; and
-When a physician signs a binding employment agreement and then either never shows up or resends their decision after the fact.

Unethical Behaviors of Clients

-The core of ethical issues with clients is frequently related to inaccurate record-keeping, specifically, failing to record the date and time of a candidate referral; also
-Failure to follow-up with a candidate or recruiter within a reasonable timeframe.

Recruiters can do a great deal to change the way candidates and clients work with them by requiring them to perform under the same rules which affect recruiting firms. Not only will it improve the overall functioning of the industry, but also it will help the recruiter to build a strong reputation as a professional with strong work ethics.

NAPR members are expected to act ethically and in a professional manner at all times. The fact that a few decide to forego ethical practices in their own self-interest, at the expense of the NAPR, fellow recruiters, clients, and candidates, is disappointing. However, the NAPR will continue to demand strict adherence to our Code of Ethics and to work toward building an association and industry that has honor.

The consistently ethical behavior of NAPR members will help to overcome the existing stigma in the recruiting industry. We can effect change, by the policing of ourselves. The NAPR helps to professionalize the industry by developing a minimum acceptable standard. Over time, clients and physicians will want to work only with NAPR-member firms in order to ensure that they receive superior service and that all matters of business are conducted by the highest ethical standards in the business.

I remember reading a quote from Vince Lombardi. Para-phrased it reads: “It is a reality of life that people are competitive and the most competitive games draw the most competitive people. That’s why we are here—to compete—to know the rules and objectives when we get into the game. The object is to win fairly, squarely and by the rules.…” We are all in the same industry and we must bring strive to instill pride and honor in our profession.

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