Summary

The American Medical Association Code of Medical Ethics is a comprehensive document that has undergone numerous revisions and elaborations since its original statement in 1847 (Riddick, 2003). Today it is composed of a set of nine principles of medical ethics, together with a set of Opinions of the AMA's Council on Ethical and Judicial Affairs (AMA, 2002) on topics ranging from abortion, genetic engineering, organ transplants and hospital billing. There is also a related AMA Declaration of Professional Responsibility (Riddick, 2003).
The principles are largely descriptive of the nature and priority of patient care, while also attending to respect for law, respect of a patient's rights, including confidences and privacy, and application and education in scientific knowledge. The principles also declare the caregiver's right to "be free to choose whom to serve, with whom to associate, and the environment in which to provide medical care (AMA, 2001). The Declaration of Professional Responsibility is wider-ranging, asserting a commitment to respect human life, refrain from crimes against humanity, and "advocate for social, economic, educational, and political changes that ameliorate suffering and contribute to human well-being" (Riddick, 2003).

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