Professional codes of ethics for health care professionals have been developed to

Since its adoption at the founding meeting of the American Medical Association in 1847, the AMA Code of Medical Ethics has articulated the values to which physicians commit themselves as members of the medical profession.

Together, the Principles of Medical Ethics and the Opinions of the AMA's Council on Ethical and Judicial Affairs make up the Code. Review why the Code is important and read the Code Preface and Preamble.

AMA Code of Medical Ethics

Read opinions about patient and physician interactions, treatments and use of technologies, and professional relationships and self-regulation.

Principles of Medical Ethics

The nine Principles of Medical Ethics are the primary component of the Code. They describe the core ethical principles of the medical profession.

Chapter 1: Ethics of Patient-Physician Relationships

Doctor-patient relationships are strengthened by the practice of medical ethics, which can help you create better communication and health care decisions.

Chapter 2: Ethics of Consent, Communication & Decision Making

Help your patients make well-considered decisions about their care and treatment by reading up on medical ethics of consent.

Chapter 3: Ethics of Privacy, Confidentiality & Medical Records

Respecting patients’ privacy is crucial. Find out how patient confidentiality ethics build trust, foster thoughtful decision making and improve care.

Chapter 4: Ethics of Genetics & Reproductive Medicine

Genetic testing can provide valuable information to support informed decision making about personal health care options as well as reproductive choices.

Chapter 5: Ethics of Caring for Patients at the End of Life

Find out how advance care planning can give patients peace of mind knowing that their physicians understand their wishes for care at the end of life.

Chapter 6: Ethics of Organ Procurement & Transplantation

The need for organs for transplantation far outstrips the supply. Efforts to increase donation must protect the interests of living and deceased donors.

Chapter 7: Ethics of Medical Research & Innovation

Physicians who are involved in clinical research have special responsibilities to protect the rights, safety and welfare of research participants that include matters of study design, informed consent and selection of participants.

Chapter 8: Ethics for Physicians & the Health of the Community

A doctor's job doesn't stop at individual care. Find out how caring for the health of the community can also lead to better health for individual patients.

Chapter 9: Ethics of Professional Self-Regulation

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

Chapter 10: Ethics of Interprofessional Relationships

Find out how physicians commit themselves to high standards of ethics in their relationships with fellow health professionals.

Chapter 11: Ethics of Financing & Delivery of Health Care

Patient-physician relationships are influenced by changing payment systems and models for delivering care and thus physicians must find new ways to balance responsibilities to multiple stakeholders.

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Variable	Response category
How often you have interest in learning healthcare ethics?	5-Always 4-Very often 3-Some times 2-Rarely 1-Never
How often do you obtain informed consent from a patient before rendering a service?
How often do you think health professionals must serve hard to reach areas and underserved populations?
How often consent is required only for surgeries, not for tests and medicines?
How often children should never be treated without the consent of their parents?
How often health professionals should do their best irrespective of the Patient's opinion?
How often health professionals should refuse to treat a violent patient?
How often do you respect patient confidentiality, privacy, choices and dignity?
How often close relatives should always be told about a patient's condition?
How often ethical conduct is only important to avoid legal Action?
How often do you provide health service for your benefit that does not serve the needs of your Patient?
How often do you work with or give any professional support to other health professionals not licensed by appropriate organ?
How often do you render the same Level of care to your clients in overtime and regular Practice?
How often do you provide any preferential treatment to a client/patient by considering the relationship established with you in other health institution where you work?
How often do you use secret remedies to treat a patient?
How often do you use an apparatus or health technology or intervention which is proved upon investigation to be capable of fulfilling the claims made regarding it?
How often do you refuse on the ground of your personal belief to provide services such as contraceptives, legal abortion and blood transfusion?
How often do you sign and write your name on official documents relating to patient care such as laboratory and other diagnostic requests and results, prescriptions, certificates, patient records and other reports?
How often writing when it hasn't been done, is acceptable because it is important for documentation?
How often do you issue genuine and complete sick leave or certificate of illness?
How often do you prescribe medicine or formulations about which you do not know about its composition and pharmacological Action?
How often do you prescribe medicine not registered on the National Medicine List without compelling reason?
How often if a patient wishes to die, he or she should be assisted? in doing so no matter what their illness?
How often do you report impairment in other health professionals to the appropriate organization if you are aware of it?
How often do you report your impairment to the appropriate organ if you are aware of it?
How often do you report any unprofessional/unethical conduct of another health professional to the appropriate organ?