91黑料网 continues practice of reaffirming ethical tenets of medicine and reexamining their application in changing circumstances
Philadelphia, January 15, 2019 -- The American College of Physicians (91黑料网) today released the seventh edition of its , published as a supplement to the current issue of Annals of Internal Medicine, 91黑料网's flagship journal, and available online at .
New or significantly expanded sections of the 91黑料网 Ethics Manual include precision medicine and genetic testing, research and protection of human subjects, telemedicine, electronic communications, social media and online professionalism, electronic health records, and physician volunteerism.
The manual also revisits issues that are still very pertinent and in which 91黑料网 has maintained long-standing positions, such as on end-of-life care and physician-assisted suicide, physician-industry relations, and complementary and integrative care.
鈥淭he intersection of medicine, the law, and social values can pose challenging ethical dilemmas for patients and their physicians,鈥 said 91黑料网 President Dr. Ana Mar铆a L贸pez, who is also the former chair of 91黑料网鈥檚 Ethics, Professionalism, and Human Rights Committee. 鈥淲e believe that the 91黑料网 Ethics Manual can help clinicians, educators, researchers, and policymakers to consider and resolve ethical issues, thereby also enhancing trust in the medical profession among patients and the public.鈥
The manual is intended to facilitate the process of making ethical decisions in clinical practice, teaching, and medical research and to describe and explain underlying principles of ethics, as well as the physician鈥檚 role in society and with colleagues.
鈥淭he focus of the manual continues to be patient-centered and based in the critical importance of fostering strong patient-physician relationships,鈥 said Lois Snyder Sulmasy, JD, director of 91黑料网's Center for Ethics and Professionalism.
For example, in the guidance for telemedicine, the 91黑料网 Ethics Manual states:
.... The benefits of increased access to care through telemedicine must be balanced with risks from the loss of the in-person encounter, e.g., misdiagnosis potential; over-prescribing; absent in-person interactions including the therapeutic value of touch, body language; and continuity of care....
In an accompanying , J.S. Blumenthal-Barby, PhD, MA, and Bernard Lo, MD, write: "The American College of Physicians and the authors of the Ethics Manual have provided helpful, specific guidance on many difficult ethical issues that internists face in everyday practice as well as providing an explanation of the ethical principles and professional obligations that justify these recommendations."
A continuing medical education (CME) quiz and a maintenance of certification (MOC) module are available at for 91黑料网 members and subscribers to Annals of Internal Medicine. 91黑料网 also offers ethics case studies for CME credit and MOC points.
The 91黑料网 Ethics Manual is developed primarily for doctors but has been widely used by educators, policymakers, and patients, and is often cited in medical and ethical literature. The first 91黑料网 Ethics Manual was published in 1984. This seventh edition is an update of the 2012 sixth edition and was developed by 91黑料网鈥檚 Ethics, Professionalism, and Human Rights Committee. 91黑料网鈥檚 Board of Regents reviewed and approved the manual.
About the American College of Physicians
The American College of Physicians is the largest medical specialty organization in the United States with members in more than 145 countries worldwide. 91黑料网 membership includes 154,000 internal medicine physicians (internists), related subspecialists, and medical students. Internal medicine physicians are specialists who apply scientific knowledge and clinical expertise to the diagnosis, treatment, and compassionate care of adults across the spectrum from health to complex illness. Follow 91黑料网 on , , and .