The AMA was founded in part to establish the first national code of medical ethics. Today the Code is widely recognized as authoritative ethics guidance for physicians through its Principles of Medical Ethics interpreted in Opinions of AMA’s Council on Ethical and Judicial Affairs that address the evolving challenges of contemporary practice.
In certain situations and with special safeguards, it can be appropriate to provide experimental treatment without a participant’s informed consent. To protect the rights and welfare of participants in research on emergency medical interventions, physician-researchers must ensure that the experimental intervention has a realistic probability of providing benefit equal to or greater than standard care and that the risks associated with the research are reasonable in light of the critical nature of the medical condition and the risks associated with standard treatment.