The Honor Code of the Stony Brook University Renaissance School of Medicine
Honor Code Committee Members
MS4: Nicholas Mangano (Co-Chair), Leor Alkadaa, Annet Kuruvilla, Amir-ali Mahmoud
MS3: Netanel Sapir (Co-Chair), Brigette Cannata, Umair Khan, Cecilia Mastrogiacomo
MS2: Nicholas Fazio, Naveed Nikpour, Monica Raiss, Ronak Shah
Preamble
We, as medical students of Stony Brook University's Renaissance School of Medicine (SOM), believe there is a need to support and cultivate the high ethical standards of honor associated with the medical community.
This Honor Code intends to make explicit minimum standards to which we, as a community, will hold our colleagues and ourselves accountable. Personal and academic integrity are the foundation of the Code, with particular focus on respectful communication among peers.
We are aware that integrity, accountability, mutual respect, and trust are essential to the medical profession, and we will actively support and work to achieve these ideals throughout our professional career. The environment that we create is critical to this endeavor.
As members of our community, we realize that our actions affect those around us and the quality of the community. This Code should supplement, but not supplant, our personal, religious, moral, and ethical beliefs. If any language in this Code conflicts with any applicable State University of New York policies, State or Federal regulations, codes, statutes or laws, those policies, regulations, codes, statutes, or laws shall be primary and prevail.
I. Professional Conduct
Establishing and maintaining the highest concepts of honor and personal integrity during medical school are critical to our training as physicians. It is our responsibility to actively support these standards and it is reasonable to expect that our colleagues will do the same.
A. Respect for Patients
1. At the Bedside
We will take the utmost care to ensure patient respect and confidentiality. As medical students, we will demonstrate respect for patients through appropriate language and behavior, including that which is non-threatening and non-judgmental. Patient privacy and modesty should be respected as much as possible during history taking, physical examinations and any other contact, to maintain professional relationships with the patients and their families. It is also important that we be truthful and not intentionally mislead or give false information. With this in mind, we should avoid disclosing information to a patient that only the patient’s physician should reveal.
We should consult more experienced members of the medical team when unsure of a course of action or at the request of a patient. Appropriate medical and/or personal information about patients should only be shared with health professionals directly involved or for educational purposes.
2. Communication
The written medical record is important in communication between health care providers and in effective patient care; it is also a legal document and available for patient review. As such, it is crucial that we maintain the integrity of patients' medical care through accurate reporting of all pertinent information about which we have direct knowledge. Written medical documents, including electronic correspondence pertaining to patients and their care must be legible, truthful, complete and accurate to the best of our knowledge and abilities. To avoid an accidental breach of confidentiality, we will not discuss patient care in common areas.
B. Respect for Faculty, Staff, Colleagues, and Hospital Personnel
We will exhibit respect for faculty, staff, colleagues and others, including hospital personnel, guests and members of the general public. This respect should be demonstrated by punctuality in relationships with patients and peers, prompt execution of reasonable instructions, and deference to those with superior knowledge, experience or capabilities.
We should strive to express views in a calm, respectful and mature manner when in disagreement with another individual. Under this Code, “discussion” is defined as the initiation of a constructive dialogue with another community member with the goal of reaching some common understanding by means of respectful communication. Discussion is encouraged, though it should be understood that achieving a common understanding does not necessarily mean reaching agreement.
C. Respect for Self
D. Respect for Laws, Policies and Regulations
Laws, policies and regulations at the University, local, state and federal levels benefit the community and are not to be disregarded or violated. Any matters under the jurisdiction of local, state or federal laws are explicitly deemed “outside the scope” of this Code. We will maintain patient confidentiality in accordance with Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) regulations.
II. Academic Standards
We are responsible for proper conduct and integrity in all scholastic and clinical work. As students, we are obligated to develop our medical knowledge and skills to the best of our ability, realizing that the health and lives of the persons committed to our charge could depend on our competence. Due to the teamwork inherent in the medical profession, we should work together and utilize all available resources. If a professor believes that it is in the best interest of student learning to limit access to some of those resources, he/she must make this explicit well in advance. We will abide by such policies.
A. Examinations
1. Professors and proctors are expected to treat us respectfully; likewise, we must demonstrate honor and integrity during examinations.
2. We understand that examinations are meant to reflect our individual achievement. Cheating during examinations is unethical and is defined as doing any of the following without authorization:
a. Looking at the answers written by another student during an examination.
b. Communicating with another student about topics that might help to answer a question during an examination.
c. Referring to notes or textual matter during an examination, or otherwise conducting research into the questions posed in the examination.
d. Violating any other policy of examinations.
3. During examinations, professors, proctors and students have an obligation to maintain a non-disruptive atmosphere.
4. We will take care not to communicate specific information regarding an examination to a classmate who has not yet completed that examination during that academic year. Specific information includes form, content, and degree of difficulty.
B. Other Academic Work
1. In deference to the scientists, doctors, and patients who have shared their knowledge and experience for the betterment of medical learning, we have a responsibility to not misrepresent the work of others nor claim it as our own.
2. During medical training we will be provided with communal instructional material that will greatly aid our learning. We will therefore make every effort to protect and preserve these resources for the use of future peers and classmates.
3. Unless a professor explicitly limits us, all assignments will be considered group work.
C. Role of the Committee
D. Membership of the Committee
The members of the Honor Committee will meet each January to select two co-chairs from amongst the committee members. One will be a preclinical (Phase 1) student, and the other a clinical (Phase 2 or 3) student. The co-chairs will be responsible for the general organization of the committee and will serve as chair people for all hearings. Additionally, they will act as liaisons between the committee, student senate, and Deans, as necessary.
The Committee will aim to meet each semester in order to maintain continuity and organization.
The results of all elections will be kept on file by the Student Senate and/or Dean's’ Office for the duration of the current term; in the event that a member of the Committee steps down, the first runner-up in their class’s most recent election will serve the remainder of the term. If there is no runner-up, a special election will be held within a reasonable time to elect a new Committee member to serve the remainder of the term.
E. Responsibilities of the Committee Members
1. To the Community
The Honor Committee’s responsibilities to the community include educating students and faculty about the Code, providing information and literature about the Code and assisting in maintaining awareness of the Code. Committee members will also undergo appropriate training prior to their becoming active members of the Committee in order to facilitate their commitments to the community.
2. Within the Committee
The Honor Committee is responsible for interpreting the Code and attending to infractions of the Code. The Committee will consider each case individually and should be sensitive to both the community and the individual involved when making decisions.
III. Social Behavior
Our social relationships should be based on mutual respect and concern. We will adhere to the professionalism and Student Conduct Code set forth by the State University of New York, as well as the Renaissance School of Medicine’s Mistreatment Policy.
IV. Honor Code Violations and Accountability
Our honor as community members and professionals is maintained through accountability. We will act in accordance with this Code and we expect our peers to do the same. We will act with honor to avoid burdening our peers with a responsibility for our own integrity. Actions not in accordance with the aforementioned standards constitute a violation of this Code.
B. Interactions with Others
If there is concern that a peer’s academic or social conduct is in violation of the Honor Code, a concerned student is obligated to report the violation. The initial step may occur in one of three ways:
1. The concerned student may meet with the individual in private (see IV.C, “Peer-Peer Discussion”),
2. The concerned student may consult with a member of the Honor Committee and ask them to meet with the individual, or
3. The concerned student may submit an email to the entire Honor Code Committee (honorcode@stonybrookmedicine.edu).
Every effort will be made to keep the matter private and not shared with others outside of the process.
C. Peer-Peer Discussion
D. Involving an Impartial Mediator
The goal of mediation is to reach an agreement as to whether or not a violation of the Code has occurred. If the mediator feels that a violation did not occur, then both parties must feel comfortable with that resolution. If an impasse persists after mediation, the case will be brought before the entire Honor Committee by the mediator.
In the event that a situation is being handled by an official entity outside of the Honor Committee, either party may seek non-disciplinary support from an Honor Committee member.
E. Role of the Faculty
For cases referred to the Honor Committee that involve a substance abuse/mental health component as well as an Honor Code infraction, the Honor Committee will take necessary measures to clarify that participation in AIMS is NOT punitive. The Honor Committee will continue its involvement in the case in order to fulfill its function in remediating the professional transgression.
In cases that are referred first to the AIMS committee that include an Honor Code violation, the Honor Committee encourages AIMS to urge the student to come forward and honorably declare the professional transgression. Confidentiality will not be breached.
V. Ratification of the Code
This Code was originally written by the SOM classes of 2004 and 2005. All incoming classes thereafter will be subject to this Code and will sign the pledge after fully engaging with the document and appreciating its gravity, in a manner specified by the School of Medicine.
VI. Amending the Code
This Code may be amended through a proposal and voting process; suggestions will be made to the Honor Code Committee, who will then lead the amendment process and petition the Senate to lead the voting. Amendments to the Code will be accepted by a two-third majority vote of all who cast votes from a quorum of 50% of all classes governed under the Code.
Once the Code has been amended, all current students will be provided with a copy of the new text and will sign the new document in order to reaffirm their commitment to the values articulated in the Code.
Membership in the Stony Brook medical community is dependent on our commitment to the Honor Code, and confirmed by our signing the Honor Pledge card, which states: “I hereby accept the Renaissance School of Medicine Honor Code, realizing that it is my duty to uphold the Code and the concepts of personal and collective responsibility upon which it is based.”
In order to reinforce the role of the Honor Code at the Renaissance School of Medicine, students will reaffirm their commitment to abide by the Honor Code at the start of each block (e.g. during TMDS, TIME4, and TCC) by reviewing and re-signing the code. During these sessions presenters will review the Honor Code Committee’s procedures, and give examples of past honor code infractions relevant to the block ahead. This session will be led by Honor Code Committee members and take place as a whole class meeting.
VIII. Acknowledgements
We wish to acknowledge the guidance and contributions provided by the codes, texts and other references that have preceded this document.
IX. Appendix
1. Assigning a Chairperson
Once a case is referred to the Honor Committee, one of the two Chair people will volunteer as Chairperson of the hearing. The Chairperson will ask a member of the committee to serve as a mediator if there is not one already (see IV.D), who will gather information regarding the case by way of interviewing and obtaining written statements from the parties (e.g., witnesses, complainants, respondents). The Chairperson will then convene the Committee for a Preliminary Meeting.
At the Preliminary Meeting, following conditions must be met:
a. At least half of the Committee must be present.
b. One voting member from the class(es) involved in the case must be present.
c. The parties involved in the case will not be present at this preliminary meeting.
d. Membership on the case will consist of those in attendance at this preliminary
meeting. No additional members may join later case proceedings. In the event of extenuating circumstances, a Committee member may be excused from the Preliminary Meeting by the chairperson. Attendance at all subsequent meetings is expected; absences may constitute dismissal from the case at the discretion of the Chairperson.
e. Additionally, Honor Committee members who feel they cannot be impartial in the particular case will recuse themselves and will have no further involvement. In the event that all committee members of a given class year must recuse themselves of their duties pertaining to a case, that class’s Senators will be asked to serve in the place of the committee members in order to meet the requirement of having at least one member from the same class as the confronted party. If they too feel unable to serve in this capacity, the class’s CAPP representative will then be asked to fulfill this role.
The Chairperson will present all background information pertaining to this case that was gathered by the mediator. Then, the Chairperson will lead a vote among the present members to determine if the case should proceed to a hearing. A vote by simple majority will determine the outcome. The mediator will not vote except in the case of a tie. Should there be a tie, the mediator should serve as a tiebreaker. Should it be determined that the case should proceed to a hearing, all the parties involved must be notified via e-mail before pursuing further action.
3. The Hearing
Subsequent to the Preliminary Meeting, a Hearing will commence. It is the responsibility of the Chairperson to guide all involved parties through the Hearing process.
The Chairperson will serve as the facilitator of this meeting and all related meetings subsequent to this Hearing. At the beginning of a Hearing, the Chairperson will give a brief overview of the purpose of the Hearing, answer any procedural questions, and ask members of the Committee whether or not they feel they can be objective.
a. Fact-finding
The first phase of the Hearing will focus on establishing facts of the case. All parties will have the opportunity to express what they believe to be the facts of the incident. During this portion of the Hearing, all Committee members are urged to ask questions in order to gain a clear understanding of the situation. Each party will also be asked to suggest and justify what he/she feels is an appropriate resolution of the problem.
The Chairperson will then dismiss the parties, and the voting members of the Committee (members present who had attended the preliminary meeting) will determine the following by a minimum of two thirds vote: Is it more likely than not that a violation of the Honor Code has occurred?
If no violation is found, the matter is dropped, and the relevant parties are so informed. The proceeding will not be reflected on a student’s record. However, the Committee may elect to propose resolutions aimed at the student body or school in general if it believes such resolutions are warranted. No resolutions (punitive or otherwise) aimed at the involved parties may be proposed.
If a violation is found, the hearing proceeds to the Deliberation phase.
b. Deliberation
When the parties and the Committee members believe that the necessary information has been shared, the parties will again be dismissed and the voting members of the Committee will determine, through a minimum two-thirds majority of eligible voting members, the following: What are the appropriate resolutions in this case? Each resolution should be voted on, followed by a vote on the list of resolutions in their entirety.
c. Presentation of the Resolution
The parties will be asked to return to hear the Committee’s recommendation and reasons for their decisions.
4. Recommendation to the Associate Dean of Student Affairs (ADSA)
After review, the Honor Committee presents its recommendation, in writing, to the Office of Student Affairs within seven (7) days of the resolution presentation. The ADSA brings these recommendations to the Deans in the Office of Academic and Faculty affairs and, together, they consider the Honor committee's recommendations in adjudicating the case and may choose to:
a. impose the Honor Committee’s recommendation wholly or in part,
b. refer the issue for further decisions to Committee on Academic Policies and Procedures (CAPP).
c. take additional action.
The Honor Committee does not have any authority to enforce any of their recommendations. The determinations of the Deans and the CAPP committee proceedings will follow the SOM existing academic policies and procedures.
5. Repairing breaches of trust
With any violation of the Code, the offending party is obligated to repair breaches of trust to the community at large. This will be accomplished by compliance with the final decision in the case and acceptable reaffirmation of the party’s commitment to the standards of the community.
