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Professional Resources Home Resources/Standards Medical ethics Code of Ethics

Practice mgmt. tools New ethics policy
Principles of medical ethics
Cont Med Educ (CME) e-mail story | print story Purchase the 2006-2007
Medical ethics edition of the AMA Code of
Preamble Medical Ethics
Public health
Medical science PDA Code
The medical profession has long subscribed to a body of ethical statements
Legal issues developed primarily for the benefit of the patient. As a member of this Download the Code of
profession, a physician must recognize responsibility to patients first and Medical Ethics to your
CPT® PDA.
foremost, as well as to society, to other health professionals, and to self. The
following Principles adopted by the American Medical Association are not laws,
but standards of conduct which define the essentials of honorable behavior for Get Pocket Principles, a
the physician. pocket-sized copy of the
Principles of Medical
Ethics.
Principles of medical ethics
I. A physician shall be dedicated to providing competent medical care, with Recent CEJA publications
compassion and respect for human dignity and rights.

II. A physician shall uphold the standards of professionalism, be honest in

all professional interactions, and strive to report physicians deficient in
character or competence, or engaging in fraud or deception, to
appropriate entities.

III. A physician shall respect the law and also recognize a responsibility to
seek changes in those requirements which are contrary to the best
interests of the patient.

IV. A physician shall respect the rights of patients, colleagues, and other
health professionals, and shall safeguard patient confidences and
privacy within the constraints of the law.

V. A physician shall continue to study, apply, and advance scientific

knowledge, maintain a commitment to medical education, make relevant
information available to patients, colleagues, and the public, obtain
consultation, and use the talents of other health professionals when
indicated.

VI. A physician shall, in the provision of appropriate patient care, except in

emergencies, be free to choose whom to serve, with whom to associate,
and the environment in which to provide medical care.

VII. A physician shall recognize a responsibility to participate in activities

contributing to the improvement of the community and the betterment of
public health.

VIII. A physician shall, while caring for a patient, regard responsibility to the
patient as paramount.

IX. A physician shall support access to medical care for all people.

Adopted by the AMA's House of Delegates June 17, 2001.

History of the Principles of Medical Ethics

A history of the revisions to the Principles of Medical Ethics.

Last updated: Nov 06, 2006

Content provided by: Ethics-CEJA

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Professional Resources Home Resources/Standards Medical ethics Code of Ethics PDA Code Code of
Ethics E-9.00
Practice mgmt. tools
Cont Med Educ (CME) E-9.031 Reporting Impaired, Incompetent, or
Medical ethics Unethical Colleagues
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Medical science
Legal issues
Physicians have an ethical obligation to report impaired, incompetent, and/or
CPT® unethical colleagues in accordance with the legal requirements in each state
and assisted by the following guidelines:

Impairment. Physicians’ responsibilities to colleagues who are impaired by a

condition that interferes with their ability to engage safely in professional
activities include timely intervention to ensure that these colleagues cease
practicing and receive appropriate assistance from a physician health program
(see Opinion E-9.0305, "Physician Health and Wellness"). Ethically and legally,
it may be necessary to report an impaired physician who continues to practice
despite reasonable offers of assistance and referral to a hospital or state
physician health program. The duty to report under such circumstances, which
stems from physicians’ obligation to protect patients against harm, may entail
reporting to the licensing authority.

Incompetence. Initial reports of incompetence should be made to the

appropriate clinical authority who would be empowered to assess the potential
impact on patient welfare and to facilitate remedial action. The hospital peer
review body should be notified where appropriate. Incompetence that poses an
immediate threat to the health and safety of patients should be reported directly
to the state licensing board. Incompetence by physicians without a hospital
affiliation should be reported to the local or state medical society and/or the
state licensing or disciplinary board.

Unethical conduct. With the exception of incompetence or impairment, unethical

behavior should be reported in accordance with the following guidelines and,
considering, as necessary, the right to privacy of any patients involved:

Unethical conduct that threatens patient care or welfare should be reported to

the appropriate authority for a particular clinical service. Unethical conduct that
violates state licensing provisions should be reported to the state licensing
board. It is appropriate to report unethical conduct that potentially violates
criminal statutes to law enforcement authorities. All other unethical conduct
should be reported to the local or state professional medical organization.

When the inappropriate conduct of a physician continues despite the initial

report(s), the reporting physician should report to a higher or additional
authority. The person or body receiving the initial report should notify the
reporting physician when appropriate action has been taken. Physicians who
receive reports of inappropriate behavior, including reports submitted
anonymously, have an ethical duty to critically, objectively, and confidentially
evaluate the reported information and assure that identified deficiencies are
either remedied or further reported to a higher or additional authority.
Information regarding reports or investigations of impairment, or of incompetent
or unethical behavior should be held in confidence until the matter is resolved.
(II)

Issued March 1992 based on the report "Reporting Impaired, Incompetent, or

Unethical Colleagues," adopted December 1991 (J Miss St Med Assoc. 1992;
33: 176-77); updated June 1994; updated June 1996; and updated June 2004,
based on the report "Physician Health and Wellness," adopted December 2003.

Last updated: Aug 29, 2005

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 The Board help contact info

State Medical Board Of Ohio Search

medical ethics
Medical Ethics
professional pain management
guidelines Each of the Board's licensee's is required to meet certain ethical standards of practice
patient safety & as determined by professional associations or accrediting bodies. These pages will help
medical errors provide access to those various statements of ethical guidelines and many serve to
explore more particular ethical conundrums.

American Medical Association

American Osteopathic Association

treatment & treatment & American Podiatric Medicine Association

compliance compliance
policy policies & position American Massage Therapy Association (AMTA)
statements
American Academy of Physicians Assistants (AAPA)

International Guild of Hair Removal Specialists, Inc. (IGHRS), (formerly known as

International Guild of Professional Electrologists (IGPE) Code of Ethics)

National Certification Commission for Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine (NCCAOM)

info
home licensee profile & status
contact frequently asked questions
Ohio.gov board policies & positions
professional guidelines
Ohio revised code
Ohio administrative code

30 E. Broad Street, 3rd Floor, Columbus, Ohio 43215-6127 ph: 614-466-3934 fx: 614-728-5946
File: http://med.ohio.gov/professional_guidelines_med_ethics.htm Updated: 08/28/2007 12:38:50

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