Northeastern Ohio Universities College of Medicine and Pharmacy

Student Honor Code

The Colleges of Medicine and Pharmacy exist for the purpose of educating students to become physicians and pharmacists who will serve the needs of society by their pursuit of excellence in the practices of medicine and pharmacy; instruction of following generations of professionals in these fields; and the pursuit of research. Students are particularly expected to develop and maintain the ethical and moral values consistent with the highest standards of medicine and pharmacy. It is implicit that honesty and integrity be part of a student’s behavior. 

Each student shall demonstrate behavior which, by its nature and interpretation, is considered to be appropriate for a career in either medicine or pharmacy. Such appropriate behavior includes, but is not limited to, the demonstration of good judgment, personal insight, personal accountability, responsibility to patients, ability to recognize personal limitations and ability to function under pressure. Students also must be aware of the social impact of their behavior as student physicians and pharmacists and later as professionals in practice of medicine and pharmacy.

Responsibilities of the Student

Adherence to the Student Honor Code is required of all students enrolled at the Northeastern Ohio Universities Colleges of Medicine and Pharmacy. Students subscribe to the Student Honor Code at the beginning of each academic year. His or her signature on the registration form of the Student Honor Code constitutes an agreement to support the code and the principles embodied therein. Each student shall:

1. become familiar with the Student Honor Code and Principles of Professional Behavior at the time of admission to the College of Medicine or College of Pharmacy; and

2. act upon any violation of the Student Honor Code or Principles in the manner prescribed in the Procedures for Management of Charges of Misconduct.

3. be advised that the authority of the institution to formally review, and if necessary, to discipline students for off-campus conduct is not limited by where the conduct occurred. In examining whether the off-campus conduct of a student will be officially reviewed by the institution, the Dean for Student Affairs will consider the nature of the conduct; whether the conduct relates to the student’s course of study or some Institutional event or activity; if the conduct is serious; and/or whether it bears upon the mission of the Institution, or its safe and efficient operation. The Dean for Student Affairs may consult with other Institutional Officials in making the determination about whether to bring a matter forward for formal review.

Privileges of the Student

Students will be accorded privileges consistent with their adherence to the Student Honor Code and the Principles of Professional Behavior. These privileges include, but are not limited to:         

1. ability to access confidential information in the care of patients in the furtherance of his or her education; and

2. ability to participate in the governance of the Colleges through participation in a large variety of faculty/student/ governance committees.

Principles of Professional Behavior

Consistent with the Student Honor Code, the student will adhere to the Principles of Professional Behavior. The student will not:

1. plagiarize or present the work of another as their own work, or participate in plagiarism by preparing a writing with the knowledge that it is to be used by another as representing that person’s own work;

2. knowingly and willfully falsify or manufacture scientific or educational data and represent the same to be the result of scientific or scholarly experimental research       

3. have furnished false information to admssions committee members in an effort to gain admission to the medical or pharmacy school;

4. cheat by any means or method;

5. restrict the use of material used in study in a manner prejudicial to the interests of other students;

6. furnish false information to faculty or academic officers relative to academic or clinical matters;

7. knowingly and willfully falsify, by omission or commission, information pertinent to patient care or in other ways violate the patient trust which is essential to the physician-patient or pharmacist-patient relationship;

8. disclose confidential or privileged patient information in an unethical or inappropriate manner;    

9. use, possess, or participate in the trafficking of illegal drugs or controlled substances;

10. maliciously remove or intentionally destroy or deface property belonging to the College or any affiliated institutions;

11. violate Federal or State laws, the rules and regulations of the college, associated hospitals, consortium universities, other affiliated medical institutions or other applicable guidelines either stated or published.