The American College of Physicians Ethics Manual is designed to help facilitate the process of making ethical decisions in clinical practice and medical research. Some aspects of medicine are fundamental and timeless. Medical practice, however, does not stand still. This seventh edition of the Manual examines emerging issues in medical ethics faced by internists and their patients and revisits older issues that are still very pertinent. The distinction and potential conflicts between legal and ethical obligations when making clinical decisions are discussed.
New or expanded sections have been added on:
- Electronic communications
- Telemedicine ethics
- Electronic health records
- Precision medicine and genetics
- Caring for oneself, persons with whom the physician has a pre-existing close nonprofessional relationship or a reporting relationship, and “very important persons”
- Social media and online professionalism
- The changing practice environment
- Gifts from patients
- Population health
- Physician volunteerism
- Research and protection of human subjects
- Innovative medical therapies and research
- Internet and social media research
Also included is a revised case method for clinical ethics decision-making, which outlines steps physicians can take in resolving ethical dilemmas.
The ACP Ethics Manual originally appeared as a supplement in Annals of Internal Medicine. The Manual can be cited as follows: Snyder LS, Bledsoe TA; ACP Ethics, Professionalism and Human Rights Committee. American College of Physicians Ethics Manual. Seventh edition. Ann Intern Med. 2019;170:S1-32. ACP Ethics Manual doi:10.7326/M18-2160
Earn CME Credit and ABIM Maintenance of Certification (MOC) Points for an educational activity related to the ACP Ethics Manual.
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