ACOFP - Code of Ethics

ACOFP Code of Ethics

The
Osteopathic Oath

I do hereby affirm my loyalty to the profession I am about to enter. I will be mindful always of my great responsibility to preserve the health and the life of my patients, to retain their confidence and respect both as a physician and a friend who will guard their secrets with scrupulous honor and fidelity, to perform faithfully my professional duties, to employ only those recognized methods of treatment consistent with good judgment and with my skill and ability, keeping in mind always nature’s laws and the body’s inherent capacity for recovery.

I will be ever vigilant in aiding in the general welfare of the community, sustaining its laws and institutions, not engaging in those practices which will in any way bring shame or discredit upon myself or my profession. I will give no drugs for deadly purposes to any person, though it may be asked of me.

I will endeavor to work in accord with my colleagues in a spirit of progressive cooperation and never by word or by act cast mputations upon them or their rightful practices.

I will look with respect and esteem upon all those who have taught me my art. To my college I will be loyal and strive always for its best interests and for the interests of the students who will come after me. I will be ever alert to further the application of basic biologic truths to the healing arts and to develop the principles of osteopathy which were first enunciated by Andrew Taylor Still.

Preamble
To promote the highest level of healthcare delivery to our patients, the ACOFP Committee on Ethics has formulated the following Code of Ethics to guide its member physicians in their professional lives. The standards presented are designed to address the osteopathic family physician’s responsibility to others in healthcare, to the patients and families in their charge, and to society as a whole.

Article 1
The Osteopathic Family Physician shall keep in confidence whatever might be learned about a patient or a family in the discharge of professional duties. Information shall never be divulged by the family physician except when required to by law or when authorized by the patient.

Article 2
The Osteopathic Family Physician shall give a candid account of the patient’s condition to that patient or to those responsible for the patient’s care.

Article 3
A physician-patient relationship must be founded on mutual trust, cooperation, and respect. The patient 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 because of race, color, religion, sex, or national origin (Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964).

Article 4
The Osteopathic Family Physician is never justified in abandoning a patient. The physician shall give due notice to the patient, family or those responsible for the patient’s care when withdrawing from the case so that another physician may be engaged.

Article 5
An Osteopathic Family Physician shall practice in accordance with the body of systematized and scientific knowledge related to the healing arts. An Osteopathic Family Physician shall maintain competence in such systematized and scientific knowledge through study, clinical applications and remaining in good standing with the certifying Board of the College.

Article 6
An Osteopathic Family Physician should maintain membership in the American Osteopathic Association and remain in good standing in the American College of Osteopathic Family Physicians. Service to state and local societies assures self-regulation and preservation of the Osteopathic concept of Family Practice. Attendance at regional, state, and national Continuing Medical Education programs keeps physicians current with osteopathic medicine and medical industry breakthroughs.

Article 7
An Osteopathic Family Physician shall not advertise for, or solicit patients directly or indirectly through the use of matters or activities, which are false or misleading.

Article 8
An Osteopathic Family Physician shall not hold forth or indicate possession of any degree recognized as the basis for licensure to practice the healing arts unless actually licensed on the basis of that degree in the state where the practice is located. An Osteopathic Family Physician shall display the DO degree and other indications of specialty practice in accordance with the rules of the American Osteopathic Association and the American College of Osteopathic Family Physicians.

Article 9
An Osteopathic Family Physician shall obtain appropriate consultation whenever it is deemed advisable for the care of the patient or requested by the patient, family, or those responsible for the patient’s care.

Article 10
In any dispute among physicians involving ethical or organizational matters, the matter in controversy should be referred to the appropriate arbitrating bodies of the profession.

Article 11
An Osteopathic Family Physician shall in any dispute between or among physicians regarding the diagnosis and treatment of a patient, the attending physician has the responsibility for the final decisions, consistent with any hospital rules or regulations.

Article 12
Any fee charged by an Osteopathic Family Physician shall compensate the physician for services actually rendered. There shall be no division of professional fees for referral of patients.

Article 13
An Osteopathic Family Physician shall respect the law, and promote and formulate laws that improve patient care, and public health as well as strengthening the family.

Article 14
An Osteopathic Family Physician shall in addition to adhering to the foregoing ethical standards, a physician shall recognize a responsibility to participate in community activities and services.

Article 15
An Osteopathic Family Physician shall consider sexual misconduct for a physician to have sexual contact with any current patient whom the physician has interviewed or upon whom a medical or surgical procedure has been performed.

Article 16
An Osteopathic Family Physician shall consider 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.

Article 17
The Osteopathic Family Physician shall honor the value of the family unit and will work to preserve, strengthen, and protect that basic unit as fundamental in the care of our patients and society as a whole.

Article 18
An Osteopathic Family Physician shall be supportive of osteopathic colleges and state and national osteopathic organizations, and will not engage in slander or acts of sedition toward the osteopathic profession or its supporting organizations.