Ethics Manual: Fourth Edition

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POSITION PAPER

Ethics Manual: Fourth Edition

1 April 1998 | Volume 128 Issue 7 | Pages 576-594

Medicine, law, and social values are not static.Reexaminingthe ethical tenets of medical practice and their applicationin new circumstances is a necessary exercise. The fourth editionof the American College of Physicians Ethics Manual covers emergingissues in medical ethics and revisits old ones. It reflectson many of the ethical tensions faced by internists and theirpatients and attempts to shed light on how existing principlesextend to emerging concerns. In addition, by reiterating ethicalprinciples that have provided guidance in resolving past ethicalproblems, it may help physicians to avert future problems. TheManual is not a substitute for the experience and integrityof individual physicians, but it may serve as a reminder ofthe shared obligations and duties of the medical profession.

Author and Article Information

American College of Physicians.

Members of the Ethics and Human Rights Committee for the 1996-97and 1997-98 terms who developed this fourth edition of the Manualwere Lloyd W. Kitchens Jr., MD (Chair); Troyen A. Brennan, MD;Richard J. Carroll, MD; Cynthia L. Clagett, MD; Lee J. DunnJr., JD, LLM; Kenneth V. Eden, MD; Joanne Lynn, MD; Steven H.Miles, MD; Gail J. Povar, MD; David L. Schiedermayer, MD; SusanH. Thompson, MD; and James A. Tulsky, MD. Staff editors wereLois Snyder, JD, and Karine Morin, LLM. Additional staff contributionswere made by Paul D. Conklin. Approved by the Board of Regentson 26 October 1997.

Acknowledgments: The American College of Physicians and theACP Ethics and Human Rights Committee are solely responsiblefor the contents of the Manual. Both thank former Committeemembers who made contributions to the development of this Manualthrough their reviews of drafts: Elias Abrutyn, MD; Samuel Asper,MD; Jeremiah A. Barondess, MD; Michael Bernstein, MD; StuartBondurant, MD; John F. Burnum, MD; Christine K. Cassel, MD;Errol D. Crook, MD; Harriet P. Dustan, MD; Saul J. Farber, MD;Daniel Federman, MD; Arthur Feinberg, MD; Norton J. Greenberger,MD; Eugene A. Hildreth, MD; Edwin P. Maynard, MD; John A. MitasII, MC USN; Robert H. Moser, MD; Warren Point, MD; William A.Reynolds, MD; Lawrence Scherr, MD; Gerald E. Thomson, MD; SusanW. Tolle, MD; Richard W. Vilter, MD; and Ralph Wallerstein,MD.

Requests for Reprints: Lois Snyder, JD, American College ofPhysicians, Independence Mall West, Sixth Street at Race, Philadelphia,PA 19106.

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