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AMA's Principles of Medical Ethics may be infused with new "lofty ideas"

Proposed changes to the ethics code emphasize physicians' commitment to patient care and access to medical care for everyone.

By Tanya Albert, amednews staff. Jan. 1/8, 2001.

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Orlando, Fla. -- The House of Delegates is poised to change the AMA's Principles of Medical Ethics for the first time in a generation.

At its recent Interim Meeting here, delegates adopted the language for minor revisions in several of the seven principles and added two additional principles that emphasize patient care and access to medical care for all people.

Delegates will vote at the Annual Meeting in June whether to formally adopt the changes. Under AMA bylaws, they needed to adopt the language and then wait six months before taking a final vote on the changes.

"This hasn't been done in 20 years," said Herbert Rakatansky, MD, who practices gastroenterology in Rhode Island and chairs the AMA Council on Ethical and Judicial Affairs, the group charged with working on the changes. "The principles needed updating, but not extensive revision."

CEJA began its work on the principles in 1997, collected codes of ethics from state and specialty societies nationwide and from organizations throughout the world, Dr. Rakatansky said. They also held numerous forums to listen to people's opinions about what needed to be updated or added.

The results:

• Adding the word "rights" to the first principle to reflect the idea that physicians will provide care with "respect for human dignity and rights."
• Adding the idea to principle five that physicians will continue to "maintain a commitment to medical education."
• Adding the idea to principle seven that physicians will participate in activities in the community that contribute to the "betterment of the public health."