An Ethical Code For Ophthalmologists: Ethical Principles and Professional Standards

Authored by ICO
Posted on June 14, 2010
Topic: Standards for Eye Care and Vision
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This document comprises a set of moral principles and standards to guide the behavior of ophthalmologists within their professional domain.

It reflects the ideals to which they should aspire as members of a specialist branch of the medical profession, and as socially responsible members of their respective professional societies.Each of the six groups of standards includes a general principle from which the related standards evolve.

The standards taken together are intended to represent comprehensive guidelines to which practitioners might refer when confronted with professional or ethical dilemmas, and act as a benchmark by which to judge ophthalmologists’ behavior in professional matters.

Standards may be added to through time in response to eventualities, but principles remain immutable over time.

This document was developed by the International Council of Ophthalmology Ethics Committee:
Pinar Aydin, MD, PhD, Turkey, Chair
Pran Nagpal, MD, India
Antonio Secchi, MD, Italy

Consultants to the Committee:
Charles Zacks, MD
Albert Jonsen, PhD.

Please feel free to adapt and use this document as a model for your society.