Opinions on Ethics and Professionalism

An AAOS Opinion on Ethics and Professionalism is an official AAOS statement dealing with an ethical issue, which offers aspirational advice on how an orthopaedic surgeon can best deal with a particular situation or circumstance. Developed through a consensus process by the AAOS Ethics Committee, an Opinion on Ethics and Professionalism is not a product of a systematic review. An AAOS Opinion on Ethics and Professionalism is adopted by a two-thirds vote of the AAOS Board of Directors present and voting.

Continuing Medical Education

Issue raised

What are the standards of continuing medical education to which orthopaedic surgeons should Applicable provision of the Principles of Medical Ethics and Professionalism in Orthopaedic Surgery

"VI. The orthopaedic surgeon continually must strive to maintain and improve medical knowledge and to make relevant information available to patients, colleagues, and the public."

Applicable provision of the Code of Medical Ethics and Professionalism for Orthopaedic Surgeons

"IV. A. The orthopaedic surgeon continually must strive to maintain and improve medical knowledge and skill, and should make available to patients and colleagues the benefits of his or her professional attainments. Each orthopaedic surgeon should participate in relevant continuing medical educational activities."

Other references

American Medical Association, Principles of Medical Ethics, Article V. "A physician shall continue to study, apply and advance scientific knowledge, make relevant information available to patients, colleagues, and the public, obtain consultation, and use the talents of other health professionals when indicated."

Background

Every orthopaedic surgeon has an ethical and professional obligation to stay abreast of the developing knowledge in the musculoskeletal sciences. The contract that exists between surgeon and patient, and between the profession and society, requires the acceptance of this obligation. The rate of growth of scientific knowledge and clinical experience in our specialty place an extraordinary responsibility on each orthopaedic surgeon to maintain his or her knowledge base.

The American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons believes that a lifelong commitment to continuing medical education is essential for orthopaedic surgeons. This commitment is essential if orthopaedic surgeons, as professionals, are to fulfill their commitment to provide high quality health care. The choice of educational methods or experience is the responsibility of individual orthopaedic surgeons. The Academy places no specific requirements on its Fellows in terms of areas or types of instruction, minimum number of hours of education during a particular time period, or preferred providers of education programs.

Recommendations

The Academy believes that each orthopaedic surgeon must develop his or her own approach to knowledge maintenance in an organized and explicit manner to assure that it addresses content in all areas in which care is provided. To do this requires:

• A self-generated practice audit to determine the types of conditions, procedures, complications, etc. which comprise one's practice experience, and to assess the results of treatment provided.


• A periodic self-assessment evaluation which addresses the knowledge and content areas relevant to the individual's practice.


• The development of a personal education plan, to include study in identified areas of deficiency, and the subsequent scheduling of educational activities to fulfill the goals developed in the education plan.

As an organization devoted to the education of orthopaedic surgeons and others, the Academy makes available current authoritative and evaluative educational materials to enhance orthopaedic knowledge and to facilitate the provision of improved patient care. The Academy's commitment to education is enduring and substantive. Every orthopaedist should make a similar commitment to excellence.

© February 1992, Revised May 2002 American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons
This material may not be modified without the express written permission of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons.

Document Number: 1203

For additional information, contact Richard N. Peterson at (847) 384-4048 or email peterson@aaos.org