Council on Ethical and Judicial Affairs
The Council on Ethical and Judicial Affairs (CEJA) is one of the three components of the Ethics Group of the American Medical Association.
CEJA has two key responsibilities:
- To maintain and update the 165-year-old Code of Medical Ethics, through its policy development function
- To promote adherence to the professional ethical standards set out in the Code through its judicial function
First developed in 1847, the AMA Code of Medical Ethics is widely recognized as the most comprehensive guide for physicians who strive to practice ethically. The Code is a living document, regularly updated through the reports and opinions of the Council on Ethical and Judicial Affairs, which analyze and address timely ethical issues confronting physicians and the medical profession.
- The Code of Medical Ethics
- The Opinions of the Code can be found in PolicyFinder
- CEJA reports - A list of CEJA reports, with most reports available as PDF files.
The Council on Ethical and Judicial Affairs (CEJA) promotes adherence to high standards of ethical professionalism through its disciplinary function. Under AMA’s Constitution and Bylaws, CEJA is charged with evaluating physicians’ fitness for membership in the American Medical Association.
CEJA’s judicial responsibilities include appellate jurisdication over members’ appeals of ethics-related decisions made by state and specialty medical societies.- Overview of the judicial function -A brief description of the disciplinary process and actions available to the Council on Ethical and Judicial Affairs
- Rules for review of membership - Disciplinary rules of the Council on Ethical and Judicial Affairs
- Rules in cases of original jurisdiction - Disciplinary rules for the Council on Ethical and Judicial Affairs in cases of original jurisdication
- Professional pitfalls - Common reasons for physician discipline, educational handout (A-12 Ethics Education Session)
The Council on Ethical and Judicial Affairs (CEJA) is composed of seven practicing physicians, a resident or fellow, and a medical student. Physician-members serve single terms of seven years; the resident/fellow serves a three-year term. The student-member serves a two-year term during the individual’s clinical years of undergraduate medical education.
- Members of CEJA - A list of current members of the AMA’s Council on Ethical and Judicial Affairs
- Bylaws - AMA Bylaws pertaining to the Council on Ethical and Judicial Affairs
- General rules - Governing rules of the Council on Ethical and Judicial Affairs
- Contact information - Contact information for CEJA and information on obtaining copies of CEJA reports
- History of AMA ethics - Timelines of ethics milestones at the AMA
