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AMA Code of Medical Ethics

Code of Medical Ethics overview
A page from the AMA Code of Medical Ethics

Code of Medical Ethics Preface & Preamble
Page zoomed in on the word ethics, being underlined by a red-inked pen

Why does the medical profession need a code of ethics?
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2 MIN READ

Code of Medical Ethics: Financing and delivery of health care

Financing health care can be a tricky issue. Find out how to ethically balance patients’ interests with the interests of payers and health care institutions.

Ethics
1 MIN READ

Modernization of Code of Medical Ethics: CEJA reports

Download PDFs of reports on this topic for the Council on Ethical & Judicial Affairs (CEJA) presented during the AMA Interim and Annual Meetings.

Council on Ethical & Judicial Affairs
4 MIN READ

Code of Medical Ethics: Professional self-regulation

As practicing clinicians, educators, professional colleagues, businesspeople and citizens, physicians should hold one another to high standards of conduct.

Ethics
3 MIN READ

Physician Responsibilities to Colleagues with Illness, Disability or Impairment

Physicians who are impaired are deserving of thoughtful, compassionate care.

Ethics
3 MIN READ

Discrimination and Disruptive Behavior by Patients

Trust can be established and maintained only when there is mutual respect.

Ethics
2 MIN READ

Patient Rights

Physicians can best contribute to a mutually respectful alliance with patients by serving as their patients’ advocates and by respecting patients’ rights.

Ethics
2 MIN READ

Physician Responsibilities for Safe Patient Discharge

The physicians’ primary ethical obligation to promote the well-being of individual patients involves a discharge plan that is safe for the patient.

Ethics
2 MIN READ

Physician Competence, Self-Assessment and Self-Awareness

Ethical responsibility competence requires physicians to understand that in the care of actual patients, competence is fluid and dependent on context.

Ethics
4 MIN READ

Frequently asked questions on ethics

The AMA is ready to answer your questions on medical ethics. Find out how to file a complaint against a doctor, how to look up AMA ethical rulings and more.

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