Intern Name: _______Jenna Godfrey____________________________________

Date: _______8/31/15_______________________________
Ethical Dilemmas in Dietetics Practice #1: Upon completion of the dietetic internship
and relocation to a new geographic area, you begin a job search. You quickly become
aware that the RD is a required credential for employment. You proceed to sign up for
the exam but due to limited locations you are scheduled in a month. You answer an ad for
a consultant position requiring an RD and decide to add the RD credential to your CV to
make your application stronger. You assume it would take a month to obtain the position
and you would have the RD upon beginning the position as a consultant.
Questions for Discussion:
Is there sufficient information to make a decision?
Yes, there seems to be sufficient information to make a decision in this case. The candidate
displayed unethical behavior in her search for a job.

Is the situation an ethical issue? Or, is it a business dispute?

This appears to be an ethical issue as it involves the intentional fabrication of the

candidates credentialing. The candidate intentionally added the RD credential without
having actually obtained it. This is unethical as it is misleading to potential employers.

What are the issues of concern in the case study presented?

The main issue of concern in this case study is the fabrication of credentials required by the
employer on the candidates application. The candidate rationalized this unethical action by
saying that she would obtain the RD credential anyway within a month, and it would most
likely take a month to obtain the position. While this may be true, her actions and
rationalizations are still unethical simply because it is the falsification of her current status
of qualifications.

What principle(s) of the Code of Ethics does it relate and how/why?

This case relates to principle #6, as it directly displays an example of a dietetic practitioner
candidate engaging in misleading communications by falsifying her credentials.
This case also relates directly to principle #1, as the candidate did not conduct herself with
honesty when applying for this job.
Lastly, this case violates principle #17, as the candidate did not provide an accurate
presentation of her qualifications and credentials.

What could be done to resolve this situation without bring a complaint forward?

The candidate should have written on the CV that she was RD eligible. This would
indicate to employers that the candidate has completed the dietetic internship and other
requirements but has not yet taken or passed the RD exam and therefore does not actually

have the RD credential. This aspect of the candidate could be discussed further during an
interview should the employer have any concerns or questions. Deliberately lying on an
application about ones qualifications that are required by a specific position is unethical in
any field, and the employer would most likely catch the lie.
To resolve this situation without bringing a complaint forward, the candidate can follow up
soon after applying for the position with a written explanation for her current credentialing
situation. She can explain that she added the RD credential because she has scheduled to
take the exam and will obtain the credential not long after she is hired. She can also provide
proof of exam registration to the potential employer so as to further reduce the unethical
nature of this action.
Ethical Dilemmas in Dietetics Practice #2: Alumni service to your internship includes
returning to the next graduating class and discussing your experiences preparing for the
RD exam, taking the exam, and looking for your first position. In preparation for the
meeting, you decide to poll your classmates to remember one to two exam questions and
share these with the graduating interns as an example of what they need to prepare for.
Upon completion of the session, you are approached by the internship director to discuss
your presentation.
Questions for Discussion:
Is there sufficient information to make a decision?
There is sufficient information to make a decision in this case. It is clear that the RD
behaved unethically in preparing for the presentation.

Is the situation an ethical issue? Or, is it a business dispute?

This case is an ethical issue, as it involves the presenter providing experiences that were not
her own.

What are the issues of concern in the case study presented?

The issue of concern in this case involves the RD misleading the class on her own
experiences preparing for the exam. She gathered ideas from her classmates and shared
them as her own. This is unethical as it is misleading the class and does not provide them
with valuable information.

What principle(s) of the Code of Ethics does it relate and how/why?

This case relates to principle #6 as the RD misleads the class by using exam preparation
ideas that did not stem from her own experiences.
Additionally, this case violates principle #1 as the RD is dishonest in her presentation to the
class regarding her own experiences preparing for the exam.

What could be done to resolve this situation without bring a complaint forward?

The RD can explain the situation to the internship director after the presentation.
She can discuss the reasons why she could not present her own experiences
preparing for the exam, so that the director does not get upset.