Ethics Issues and Position Papers
Position Papers
Position papers are statements of ACP policy approved by the Board of Regents. The Ethics, Professionalism and Human Rights Committee and the Center for Ethics and Professionalism develop position papers addressing ethical and professional issues in medical practice, research and education.
End-of-Life Care
The College convened a panel of experts on end-of-life care to develop consensus-based ethical, policy, and clinical recommendations to promote high quality palliative care. The Consensus Panel published a series of papers addressing issues in palliative medicine and end-of-life care. Additional end-of-life resources including educational materials for patients and physicians, have been developed by the Center.
Human Rights
"Health and human rights are interrelated. When human rights are promoted, health is promoted... Physicians have an important role to play in promoting health and human rights, and addressing social inequities." Ethics Manual, Sixth Edition.
Human Subjects
The ACP Ethics, Professionalism and Human Rights Committee and the Center for Ethics and Professionalism develop position papers and case studies addressing the protection of human subjects of medical research. The Center also prepares formal comments addressing regulatory and legislative proposals related to human subjects protections.
Medicine as a Profession Ethics Project
Social and institutional systems that focus on resource allocation can challenge the physician's obligation to his or her patients. Resolving competing demands requires ethical principles of patient care that are embraced by physicians, patients, and the community as a whole. The Medicine as a Profession Ethics Project brought together a working group of patients, consumer advocates, physicians, managed care organization leaders and ethicists to assess principles of ethics and professionalism in a changing practice environment.
Physician Industry Relations
A two-part ACP position paper on physician-industry relations developed by the College’s Ethics, Professionalism and Human Rights Committee and the Center for Ethics and Professionalism provides ethical guidance to physicians regarding the potential influence of financial incentives inherent in the practice environment.
Read the Position Paper and More on Physician Industry Relations
Research Ethics & Integrity
The Center provides and/or contributes to ACP comments on regulatory proposals and develops educational materials addressing the ethical conduct of research.
Related Links
- Where We Stand: ACP Advocacy Issues
- End-of-Life Care Patient Education Project
- Conflict of Interest Disclosure System
Ethics Resources
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