An Overview of the ACR Committee on Ethics: From Hospital Contracts to Expert Witness Testimony

Professional medical ethics has challenged physicians since time immemorial. Difficult questions about whether physicians appropriately interact with patients, staff members, and their medical colleagues seldom yield ready answers. Like other professional societies, the ACR offers guidance for its members on medical ethics issues. This article discusses how the ACR Committee on Ethics serves educational and investigative and disciplinary roles. The committee has authored and contributed to articles and other resources on such topics as physician-patient communication, informed consent, and ethics training for residents. It also has received complaints that a member's conduct allegedly violated the ACR's Code of Ethics. Many recent complaints have alleged that a member failed to provide nonpartisan and accurate expert medical testimony in a legal proceeding. The committee carefully screens each complaint and has established a process for investigating and deciding whether the testimony has violated the code.