Code of Ethics
The Council of the Massachusetts Medical Society on February 9, 1983, voted to adopt the AMA Principles of Medical Ethics as the Massachusetts Medical Society Code of Ethics. This Code is intended to establish general principles and rules of conduct for membership in the Society:
- A physician shall be dedicated to providing competent medical service with compassion and respect for human dignity.
- A physician shall deal honestly with patients and colleagues, and strive to expose those physicians deficient in character or competence, or who engage in fraud or deception.
- A physician shall respect the law and also recognize a responsibility to seek changes in those requirements which are contrary to the best interests of the patient.
- A physician shall respect the rights of patients, of colleagues, and of other health professionals, and shall safeguard patient confidences within the constraints of the law.
- 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.
- A physician shall, in the provision of appropriate patient care, except in emergencies, be free to choose whom to serve, with whom to associate, and the environment in which to provide medical services.
- A physician shall recognize a responsibility to participate in activities contributing to an improved community.
Tracy Balboni, M.D., M.P.H. serves as Professor of Radiation Oncology at Harvard Medical School. She is a radiation oncologist at the Brigham and Women’s Hospital and Dana-Farber Cancer Institute and is dually boarded in radiation oncology and palliative care. She is Vice Chair of Education for the Mass General Brigham Department of Radiation Oncology and Program Director for the Harvard Radiation Oncology Program. Dr. Balboni also co-directs the Initiative on Health, Spirituality and Religion at Harvard University. She developed and led the Supportive and Palliative Radiation Oncology Service at the Dana-Farber/Brigham and Women’s Cancer Center – a service dedicated to the needs of advanced cancer patients. Her primary research interests address the intersection of spirituality and the practice of medicine, including the role of spirituality in illness. Her work also includes optimizing the quality of life of patients living with cancer, including advancing the management of bone metastases. She is a graduate of Stanford University, Harvard Medical School, and the Harvard School of Public Health.