Clinical Rotations

AZCOM faculty has adopted the Code of Ethics established by the American Osteopathic Association as quoted directly below:

The American Osteopathic Association (AOA) has formulated this Code to guide its member physicians in their professional lives. The standards presented are designed to address the osteopathic physician's ethical and professional responsibilities to patients, to society, to the AOA, to others involved in health care and to self.

Further, the American Osteopathic Association has adopted the position that physicians should play a major role in the development and instruction of medical ethics.

The physician shall keep in confidence whatever the physician may learn about a patient in the discharge of professional duties. The physician shall divulge information only 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 a personal physician. The physician must have complete freedom to choose patients whom the physician 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 handicap.  A physician should always be available to provide emergency services.   

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 the physician 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 applications.

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.

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 the individual is actually licensed on the basis of that degree in the state in which the physician practices. A physician shall designate the individual's osteopathic school of practice in all professional uses of the physician's 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 should not hesitate to seek consultation whenever the physician believes it advisable for the care of the patient.

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.

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 help 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 shall recognize a responsibility to participate in community activities and services.

It is considered sexual misconduct for a physician to have sexual contact with any current patient whom the physician has interviewed and/or upon whom a medical or surgical procedure has been performed.

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.

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. (Approved July 2003)

Physicians shall not intentionally misrepresent themselves or their research work in any way.

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 and funding 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.