Legal Definitions - unethical

Unethical describes actions or conduct that do not align with accepted moral principles or societal norms. In a professional context, particularly within the legal field, it specifically refers to behavior that violates the established standards of professional conduct expected of practitioners.

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.