PT  - JOURNAL ARTICLE
AU  - N. P. Kenny
TI  - The CMA Code of Ethics: more room for reflection
DP  - 1996 Oct 15
TA  - Canadian Medical Association Journal
PG  - 1063--1065
VI  - 155
IP  - 8
4099  - http://www.cmaj.ca/content/155/8/1063.short
4100  - http://www.cmaj.ca/content/155/8/1063.full
SO  - CMAJ1996 Oct 15; 155
AB  - Codes of ethics stand as a promise to society about the integrity of a profession in return for the power and authority given to that profession by society. The revised CMA Code of Ethics (see pages 1176A to 1176B) is timely and significant and should be applauded and supported by all physicians. It speaks clearly to competence, high standards of practice and communication, and the importance of informed patient choice. Nonetheless, the code provides no systematic justification for the principles it asserts. Although these principles are helpful tools, they are insufficient to resolve major ethical dilemmas. The code provides no means of ordering ethical priorities and fails to address issues such as peer review and conflict of interest. It is deafeningly silent on both abortion and euthanasia. In view of these limitations, the code must be seen as an important but unfinished reflection on the essence of being a good physician.