ACP: Center for Ethics and Professionalism

Running a Practice

Ethics Manual

Ethics Manual 5th Edition

The College's Ethics Manual is the foundation of College policy on ethics and professionalism. The Fifth Edition of the Manual was published in April 2005 in the Annals of Internal Medicine. Changes to the Manual since the 1998 edition include new or expanded sections on professionalism, the physician and patient, third party evaluations, confidentiality, complementary and alternative care, boundaries and privacy, gifts from patients, care of patients at the end of life, solid organ transplantation, physician-assisted suicide, the changing practice environment and managed care ethics, physician-industry issues, selling products out of the office, health and human rights, patient safety, prisoners as patients, strikes and joint actions, consultation and shared care, and research ethics. A case method for ethics decision making, which outlines steps physicians can take in resolving ethical dilemmas is included.

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View the full text of the 5th Edition Manual
View the Spanish translation of the 5th Edition of the Manual
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Revised Policy

Physician participation in interrogation (Revision to the American College of Physicians Ethics Manual, June 3, 2008)
“Position 1. Industry Gifts, Hospitality, Services, and Subsidies” of our position paper Physician–Industry Relations. Part 1: Individual Physicians. (March 20, 2007)

For additional College policy, see also:

For more information contact Lois Snyder, JD, at lsnyder@acponline.org, or at 215-351-2835.

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Page updated: 10-05-05

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