Ethics & Professionalism

Ethics Manual

ACP's Ethics Manual is available in both English and Spanish.

The Ethics Manual and more

Physician's Charter

Read the Physician's Charter

Ethics Issues

New Ethical Guidance for Patient-Physician-Family Caregiver Relationships

"Family Caregivers, Patients and Physicians: Ethical Guidance to Optimize Relationships"
This new ACP position paper outlines primary principles for physicians, who may face ethical challenges collaborating with patients and family caregivers while preserving the primacy of the patient-physician relationship.

Case Studies

Ethics case studies illustrate real-life issues physicians encounter in everyday practice. The commentaries developed by the ACP Ethics, Professionalism and Human Rights Committee and the Center for Ethics and Professionalism offer a problem-solving approach baesd on medical ethics principles. CME credit is available for completion of ACP's professionalism case studies series featured on Medscape.

  • To Be or Not to Be: Should I Serve as an Expert Witness?
    July 2, 2010
  • Author! Author! Who Should Be Named in a Published Study? An Ethics Case Study
    December 31, 2009
  • The Difficult Patient: Should You End the Relationship? What Now? An Ethics Case Study
    August 18, 2009

More on Case Studies

Ethical Complaints

Complaints Procedures
BOR approves revision to ACP Complaints Procedures (April 19, 2010)

The College has modified its ethics procedures to emphasize (1) the College’s obligation to review issues related to ethical conduct of physician members regardless of how the College receives notification of such matters; and (2) member representation by an attorney only if the College elects to have attorney representation at an ethics hearings. These and other minor changes can be found in the Complaints Procedures.

More on Ethical Complaints

ACP Conflict of Interest Policy

About the Center

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

Page reviewed: 5-1-10
Page updated: 7-7-10

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Register Now For Your ACP Fall Chapter Meeting

Register Now For Your ACP Fall Chapter Meeting

Attend your fall chapter meeting, earn CME credit, and find out what your local ACP Chapter has to offer! See the Chapter calendar or find out more, including the answers to frequently asked questions about ACP Chapters and regions.

Test Your Medical Knowledge on Your Mobile Device with ACP's Doctor's Dilemma Game!

Test Your Medical Knowledge on Your Mobile Device with ACP’s Doctor's Dilemma™ Game!

This new online game is based on the popular ACP Doctor's Dilemma Competition from ACP's annual Internal Medicine meetings. The game is simple to play but challenging to master. Start now!