AMA adopts guidance for ethical physician conduct in the media

HONOLULU — Ethical challenges occur as the worlds of medicine, journalism and entertainment collide in the mass media marketplace. In response, physicians gathered at the Interim Meeting of the American Medical Association (AMA) approved new ethical guidance to help physicians in the media successfully navigate the sometimes overlapping roles of clinician, consultant, pundit, journalist and media personality.

“Ethical physician conduct in the media offers effective and accessible medical perspectives that lead to a healthier and better-informed society,” said AMA Stephen R. Permut, M.D., former chair of the AMA Board of Trustees. “The newly adopted AMA guidance will help physicians in the media fulfill heightened expectations as credible resources and advisors to patients as well as representatives of the medical profession.”