This sounds more like some narcissistic, self-important, "oh look at me, I'm ethical" monkey business - a complete waste of time serving no purpose and surely not being enforceable. What are we going to do? Send unethical DBAs to a prison on some island like say, Cuba?
I agree with this. The writer of the piece I read sounded like they had disappeared up their own backside and started comparing themselves with a doctor of medicine. Yes a DBA could potentially do a lot of damage but so could a lot of much less qualified people, in much less 'important' jobs.
As DBAs we make technical decisions, not ethical ones. There is actually a right and a wrong solution to each problem we face. Granted, we have to work around things from time to time but it's a case of 'how do I...' not 'should I...'
If your manager asks you to break the law, then they're breaking the law,
If you steal data, look at confidential information for no reason, edit information for your own purposes etc etc then you are breaking your conditions of employment and probably the law.
If you find your self wondering if what you're doing is morally right or wrong then see your manager.
Tom
Just as a point, and I think the term 'ethical' has been taken to mean a number of things now, can anyone give me an example of a moral/ethical/code of conduct related dilema they've faced?
I think all things to do with the management of a database will be covered by law or terms of employment.