The IOMA Code of Ethics

  • The physician shall keep in confidence whatever 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.
  • The physician shall give a candid account of the patient's condition to the patient or to those responsible for the patient's care.
  • A physician-patient relationship must be founded on mutual trust, cooperation, and respect. The patient, therefore, must have complete freedom to choose his physician. The physician must have complete freedom to choose patients whom he will serve. However, the physician should not refuse to accept patients because of the patient's race, creed, color, sex, national origin or handicap. In emergencies, a physician should make his services available.
  • 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 he withdraws from the case so that another physician may be engaged.
  • A physician 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 application.
  • The osteopathic 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 profession. A physician should maintain membership in and actively support such associations and abide by their rules and regulations.
  • 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.
  • A physician shall not hold forth or indicate possession of any degree recognized as the basis for licensure to practice the healing arts unless he is actually licensed on the basis of that degree in the state in which he practices. A physician shall designate his osteopathic school of practice in all professional uses of his name. Indications of specialty practice, membership in professional societies, and related matters shall be governed by rules promulgated by the American Osteopathic Association.
  • A physician shall obtain consultation whenever requested to do so by the patient. A physician should not hesitate to seek consultation whenever he himself believes it advisable
  • In any dispute between or among physicians involving ethical or organizational matter, the matter in controversy should first be referred to the appropriate arbitrating bodies of the profession.
  • 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 osteopathic hospital rules or regulations.
  • 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.
  • A physician shall respect the law. When necessary a physician shall attempt to formulate the law by all proper means in order to improve patient care and public health.
  • In addition to adhering to the foregoing ethical standards, a physician should whenever possible participate in community activities and services.