American Osteopathic Association Code of Ethics
OSU Medicine recognizes the integral role that our physicians play in our community.
We expect our physicians to conduct themselves in an ethical and professional manner
and remember that they are representing the University anytime they put their lab
coat on. Therefore, we have adopted the following provisions from the American Osteopathic
Association’s (AOA) Code of Ethics to guide our physicians in their professional lives.
These standards are designed to address the physician’s ethical and professional responsibilities
to patients, co-workers, the University,
and themselves.
Section 1. The physician shall keep in confidence whatever she/he may
learn about a patient in the discharge of professional duties. Information shall be
divulged by the physician when required by law or when authorized by the patient.
Section 2. The physician shall give a candid account of the patient’s condition to the patient
or to those responsible for the patient’s care.
Section 3. A physician-patient relationship must be founded on mutual trust, cooperation, and
respect. The patient, therefore, must have complete freedom to choose her/his physician.
The physician must have complete freedom to choose patients whom she/he will serve.
However, the physician should not refuse to accept patients for reasons of discrimination,
including, but not limited to, the patient’s race, creed, color, sex, national origin,
sexual orientation, gender identity, or disability. In emergencies, a physician should
make her/his services available.
Section 4. A physician is never justified in abandoning a patient. The physician shall give due
notice to a patient or to those responsible for the patient’s care when she/he withdraws
from the case so that another physician may be engaged.
Section 5. A physician should make a reasonable effort to partner with patients to promote their
health and shall practice in accordance with the body of systematized and scientific
knowledge related to the healing arts. A physician shall maintain competence in such
systematized and scientific knowledge through study and clinical applications.
Section 6. The osteopathic medical profession has an obligation to society to maintain its high
standards and, therefore, to continuously regulate itself. A substantial part of such
regulation is due to the efforts and influence of the recognized local, state and
national associations representing the osteopathic medical profession. A physician
should maintain membership in and actively support such associations and abide by
their rules and regulations.
Section 7. Under the law a physician may advertise, but no physician shall advertise or solicit
patients directly or indirectly through the use of matters or activities which are
false or misleading.
Section 9. A physician should not hesitate to seek consultation whenever she/he believes it is
in the best interest of the patient.
Section 10. In any dispute between or among physicians involving ethical or organizational matters,
the matter in controversy should first be referred to the appropriate arbitrating
bodies of the profession.
Section 11. In any dispute between or among physicians regarding the diagnosis and treatment of
a patient, the attending physician has the responsibility for final decisions, consistent
with any applicable hospital rules or regulations.
Section 12. Any fee charged by a physician shall compensate the physician for services actually
rendered. There shall be no division of professional fees for referrals of patients.
Section 13. A physician shall respect the law. When necessary a physician shall attempt to help
to formulate the law by all proper means in order to improve patient care and public
health.
Section 14. In addition to adhering to the foregoing ethical standards, a physician shall recognize
a responsibility to participate in community activities and services.
Section 15. It is considered sexual misconduct for a physician to have sexual contact with any
patient with whom a physician-patient relationship currently exists.
Section 16. Sexual harassment by a physician is considered unethical. Sexual harassment is defined
as physical or verbal intimation of a sexual nature involving a colleague or subordinate
in the workplace or academic setting, when such conduct creates an unreasonable, intimidating,
hostile or offensive workplace or academic setting.
Section 17. From time to time, industry may provide some AOA members with gifts as an inducement
to use their products or services. Members
who use these products and services as a result of these gifts, rather than simply
for the betterment of their patients and the improvement of the
care rendered in their practices, shall be considered to have acted in an unethical
manner.
Section 18. A physician shall not intentionally misrepresent himself/herself or his/her research
work in any way.
Section 19. When participating in research, a physician shall follow the current laws, regulations
and standards of the United States or, if the research is conducted outside the United
States, the laws, regulations and standards applicable to research in the nation where
the research is conducted. This standard shall apply for physician involvement in
research at any level and degree of responsibility, including, but not limited to,
research, design, funding, participation either as examining and/or treating provider,
supervision of other staff in their research, analysis of data and publication of
results in any form for any purpose.