The Ontario Professional  Association of Osteopathic Medicine has formulated this Code to guide its member  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 OPAOM, to others involved in healthcare and to self.

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

Section 1.

The member shall keep in confidence whatever she/he may learn about a patient in the discharge of professional duties. The member shall divulge information only when required by law or when authorized by the patient.

Section 2.

The member shall give a candid account of the patient's condition to the patient or to those responsible for the patient's care.

Section 3.

A member-patient relationship must be founded on mutual trust, cooperation, and respect. The patient, therefore, must have complete freedom to choose her/his provider. The member must have complete freedom to choose patients whom she/he will serve. However, the member should not refuse to accept patients because of the patient's race, creed, color, sex, national origin or handicap. In emergencies, a member should make her/his services available.

Section 4.

A member is never justified in abandoning a patient. The member shall give due notice to a patient or to those responsible for the patient's care when she/he withdraws from the case so that another physician may be engaged.

Section 5.

A member shall practice in accordance with the body of systematized and scientific knowledge related to the healing arts. A member shall maintain competence in such systematized and scientific knowledge through study and clinical applications.

Section 6.

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 member should maintain membership in and actively support such associations and abide by their rules and regulations.

Section 7.

Under the law a member may advertise, but no member shall advertise or solicit patients directly or indirectly through the use of matters or activities, which are false or misleading.

Section 8.

A member shall not hold forth or indicate possession of any degree recognized as the basis for licensure to practice the healing arts unless he is actually licensed on the basis of that degree in the province in which she/he practices. A member shall designate her/his osteopathic school of practice in all professional uses of her/his name. Indications of specialty practice, membership in professional societies, and related matters shall be governed by rules promulgated by the Ontario Professional  Association of Osteopathic Medicine.

Section 9.

A member should not hesitate to seek consultation whenever she/he believes it advisable for the care of the patient.

Section 10.

In any dispute between or among members involving ethical or organizational matters, the matter in controversy should first be referred to the appropriate arbitrating bodies of the profession.

Section 11.

In any dispute between or among members 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.

Section 12.

Any fee charged by a member shall compensate the member for services actually rendered. There shall be no division of professional fees for referrals of patients.

Section 13.

A member shall respect the law. When necessary a member shall attempt to help to formulate the law by all proper means in order to improve patient care and public health.

Section 14.

In addition to adhering to the foregoing ethical standards, a member shall recognize a responsibility to participate in community activities and services.

Section 15.

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

Section 16.

Sexual harassment by a member 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.

Section 17.

From time to time, industry may provide some OPAOM 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.

Section 18.

A member shall not intentionally misrepresent himself/herself or his/her research work in any way.

Section 19.

When participating in research, a member shall follow the current laws, regulations and standards of the Canada or, if the research is conducted outside the Canada, the laws, regulations and standards applicable to research in the nation where the research is conducted. This standard shall apply for member involvement in research at any level and degree of responsibility, including, but not limited to, research, design, funding, participation 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.