AMA Code Says
Jun 2011

AMA Code of Medical Ethics’ Opinions on Ethical Referral

AMA Council on Ethical and Judicial Affairs
Virtual Mentor. 2011;13(6):359-360. doi: 10.1001/virtualmentor.2011.13.6.coet1-1106.

Opinion 3.04 - Referral of Patients

A physician may refer a patient for diagnostic or therapeutic services to another physician, limited practitioner, or any other provider of health care services permitted by law to furnish such services, whenever he or she believes that this may benefit the patient. As in the case of referrals to physician-specialists, referrals to limited practitioners should be based on their individual competence and ability to perform the services needed by the patient. A physician should not so refer a patient unless the physician is confident that the services provided on referral will be performed competently and in accordance with accepted scientific standards and legal requirements.

Opinion 3.041 - Chiropractic

It is ethical for a physician to associate professionally with chiropractors provided that the physician believes that such association is in the best interests of his or her patient. A physician may refer a patient for diagnostic or therapeutic services to a chiropractor permitted by law to furnish such services whenever the physician believes that this may benefit his or her patient. Physicians may also ethically teach in recognized schools of chiropractic.

Opinion 3.01 - Nonscientific Practitioners

It is unethical to engage in or to aid and abet in treatment which has no scientific basis and is dangerous, is calculated to deceive the patient by giving false hope, or which may cause the patient to delay in seeking proper care.

Physicians should also be mindful of state laws which prohibit a physician from aiding and abetting an unlicensed person in the practice of medicine, aiding or abetting a person with a limited license in providing services beyond the scope of his or her license, or undertaking the joint medical treatment of patients under the foregoing circumstances.

Physicians are otherwise free to accept or decline to serve anyone who seeks their services, regardless of who has recommended that the individual see the physician.

Citation

Virtual Mentor. 2011;13(6):359-360.

DOI

10.1001/virtualmentor.2011.13.6.coet1-1106.

The viewpoints expressed in this article are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views and policies of the AMA.