News and briefs: ACP Ethics Manual 6.0

For the first time in seven years, the American College of Physicians (ACP) updated its ethics manual. The 32-page report, published in its online publication, The Annals of Internal Medicine, addresses a number of changes to existing ethical standards.

The sixth edition of the ethics manual addresses new issues including social media and online professionalism, best practices in treating patients with whom the physician has had a prior nonprofessional relationship, and the impact of the physician-employee model.

The manual states that the ethical language is intended to “help thoughtful readers to be virtuous physicians.” A January 5 article in HealthLeaders Media discusses some of the implications for making changes with ACP President Virginia Hood, MBBS.

To read more on the HealthLeaders Media article, click here.