2007-07-23 12:55:46 · 3 answers · asked by lightcake29 1 in Politics & Government ➔ Law & Ethics
Only legal violations, being a matter of public well-being, can be punished by a public court.
Your ethics are your own business, however, and thus aren't subject to punishment. Only when those ethics become bad (and usually illegal) ACTIONS are you in danger of punishment.
2007-07-23 13:05:52 · answer #1 · answered by Vaughn 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Ethics are not universal. Each individual or group has their own individual ethical codes. And generally, the most serious punishment for an ethical violation would be expulsion from the group. In the case of professional associations (and licensure boards) that expulsion can have serious consequences.
As for laws, that would be based on the severity of the laws being violated -- and the punishments are set forth in the laws, which (in the US) is a due process requirement.
So, a legal violation would have whatever consequences are defined in the laws. Damages for civil matters, possible fines and/or jail time for criminal matters.
2007-07-23 20:17:53 · answer #2 · answered by coragryph 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
There is no punishment for violating ethical rules, but it can lead to a civil law suit.
When some law gets broken, it is spelled out in the law, what the appropriate range of penalties might be.
2007-07-23 20:01:52 · answer #3 · answered by Al Mac Wheel 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋