Center for the Study of Ethics in the Professions at IIT

Medical Record Administration is concerned with the development, use, and maintenance of medical and health records for medical care and treatment, administrative, reference, professional education and research purposes. Medical record practice is a trust delegated by the medical and health services. To protect and merit the trust placed in it, the medical record profession has the responsibility of defining basic principles governing the professional conduct of its members. The American Medical Record Association has therefore adopted this Code of Ethics.

The following code of ethical conduct defines the tenets necessary for carrying out the purposes of the medical record profession, is binding upon any member of the American Medical Record Association, and upon any person, certified, registered, or accredited by this Association. As a member of one of the paramedical professions, he shall:

1 Place service before material gain, the honor of the profession before personal advantage, the health and welfare of patients above all personal and financial interests, and conduct himself in the practice of this profession so as to bring honor to himself, his associates, and to the medical record profession.

2 Preserve and protect the medical records in his custody and hold inviolate the privileged contents of the records and any other information of a confidential nature obtained in his official capacity, taking due account of applicable statutes and of regulations and policies of his employer.

3 Serve his employer loyally, honorably discharging the duties and responsibilities entrusted to him, and give due consideration to the nature of these responsibilities in giving his employer notice of intent to resign his position.

4 Refuse to participate in or conceal unethical practices or procedures.

5 Report to the proper authorities but disclose to no one else any evidence of conduct or practice revealed in the medical records in his custody that indicates possible violation of established rules and regulations of the employer or of professional practice.

6 Preserve the confidential nature of professional determinations made by the staff committees which he serves.

7 Accept only those fees that are customary and lawful in the area for services rendered in his official capacity.

8 Avoid encroachment on the professional responsibilities of the medical and other para medical professions, and under no circumstances assume or give the appearance of assuming the right to make determinations in professional areas outside the scope of his assigned responsibilities.

9 Strive to advance the knowledge and practice of medical record administration, including continued self-improvement, in order to contribute to the best possible medical care.

10 Participate appropriately in developing and strengthening professional manpower and in representing the profession to the public.

11 Discharge honorably the responsibilities of any Association post to which appointed or elected, and preserve the confidentiality of any privileged information made known to him in his official capacity.

12 State truthfully and accurately his credentials, professional education, and experience in any official transaction with the American Medical Record Association and with any employer or prospective employer.