Sexual Misconduct

Number 373

ABSTRACT: The physician-patient relationship is damaged when there is either confusion regarding professional roles and behavior or clear lack of integrity that allows sexual exploitation and harm. S...

The Role of Cystourethroscopy in the Generalist Obstetrician-Gynecologist Practice

Number 372

(Reaffirmed 2010)

ABSTRACT: Cystourethroscopy can be performed for diagnostic and a few operative indications by obstetrician–gynecologists to help improve patient care. Perhaps the most important indications for cyst...

Sterilization of Women Including Those With Mental Disabilities

Number 371

(Reaffirmed 2009)

ABSTRACT: Sterilization, like any other surgical procedure, must be carried out under the general ethical principles of respect for autonomy, beneficence, and justice. Women requesting sterilization ...

Institutional Responsibility to Provide Legal Representation

Number 370

(Reaffirmed 2012)

ABSTRACT: Hospitals, academic institutions, professional corporations, and other health care organizations should have policies and procedures by which alleged violations of professional behavior can...

Seeking and Giving Consultation

Number 365

ABSTRACT: Consultations usually are sought when practitioners with primary clinical responsibility recognize conditions or situations that are beyond their level of expertise or available resources. ...

Patents Medicine and the Interests of Patients

Number 364

(Reaffirmed 2009)

ABSTRACT: Many basic scientists and clinicians support the right to obtain and enforce patents on drugs, diagnostic tests, medical devices, and most recently, genes. Although those who develop useful...

Patient Testing Ethical Issues in Selection and Counseling

Number 363

(Reaffirmed 2012)

ABSTRACT: Recommendations to patients about testing should be based on current medical knowledge, a concern for the patient's best interests, and mutual consultation. In addition to establishing a di...

Medical Futility

Number 362

(Reaffirmed 2008)

ABSTRACT: The construct of medical futility has been used to justify a physician's unilateral refusal to provide treatment requested or demanded by a patient or the family of a patient. It is importa...

Breastfeeding: Maternal and Infant Aspects

Number 361

ABSTRACT: Evidence continues to mount regarding the value of breastfeeding for both women and their infants. The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists strongly supports breastfeeding an...

Sex Selection

Number 360

(Reaffirmed 2011)

ABSTRACT: In this Committee Opinion, the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists' Committee on Ethics presents various ethical considerations and arguments relevant to both prefertilizati...

Commercial Enterprises in Medical Practice

Number 359

(Reaffirmed 2011)

ABSTRACT: Increasing numbers of physicians sell and promote both medical and nonmedical products as part of their practices. Physicians always have rendered advice and treatment for a fee, and this p...

Innovative Practice - Ethical Guidelines

Number 352

(Reaffirmed 2012)

ABSTRACT: Innovations in medical practice are critical to the advancement of medicine. Good clinicians constantly adapt and modify their clinical approaches in ways they believe will benefit patients...

Menstruation in Girls and Adolescents - Using the Menstrual Cycle as a Vital Sign

Number 349

(Reaffirmed 2009)

ABSTRACT: Young patients and their parents often are unsure about what represents normal menstrual patterns, and clinicians also may be unsure about normal ranges for menstrual cycle length and amoun...

Umbilical Cord Blood Gas and Acid-Base Analysis

Number 348

(Reaffirmed 2012)

ABSTRACT: Umbilical cord blood gas and acid-base assessment are the most objective determinations of the fetal metabolic condition at the moment of birth. Moderate and severe newborn encephalopathy, ...

Using Preimplantation Embryos for Research

Number 347

(Reaffirmed 2008)

ABSTRACT: Human embryonic stem cell research promises an increased understanding of the molecular process underlying cell differentiation. Transplantation of embryonic stem cells or their derivatives...

Amnioinfusion Does Not Prevent Meconium Aspiration Syndrome

Number 346

(Reaffirmed 2012)

ABSTRACT: Amnioinfusion has been advocated as a technique to reduce the incidence of meconium aspiration and to improve neonatal outcome. However, a large proportion of women with meconium-stained am...

Vulvodynia

Number 345

(Reaffirmed 2008)

ABSTRACT: Vulvodynia is a complex disorder that can be difficult to treat. It is described by most patients as burning, stinging, irritation, or rawness. Many treatment options have been used, includ...

Mode of Term Singleton Breech Delivery

Number 340

(Reaffirmed 2012, Replaces No. 265, December 2001)

ABSTRACT: In light of recent studies that further clarify the long-term risks of vaginal breech delivery, the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists recommends that the decision regardin...

Analgesia and Cesarean Delivery Rates

Number 339

(Reaffirmed 2010, Replaces No. 269, February 2002)

ABSTRACT: Neuraxial analgesia techniques are the most effective and least depressant treatments for labor pain. The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists previously recommended that pra...

Tamoxifen and Uterine Cancer

Number 336

(Reaffirmed 2008, Replaces No. 232, April 2000)

ABSTRACT: Tamoxifen may be associated with endometrial proliferation, hyperplasia, polyp formation, invasive carcinoma, and uterine sarcoma. Any symptoms of endometrial hyperplasia or cancer reported...