Consultation and referral must be sought when appropriate. Communication with colleagues must be truthful and forthright. Disparagement of any kind is to be discouraged. This Code of Ethics does not seek to restrict legal trade practices. However, a physician's commercial or financial interests should never be placed ahead of the interests and welfare of patients.
Conflicts of interest undermine the trust that patients place in their physician.
For this reason, physicians should endeavor to avoid any venture that creates a conflict of interest between personal financial interests and the best interests of the patient. Conflicts that develop between a physician's financial interests and the physician's responsibilities to the patient should be resolved to the benefit of the patient. All decisions regarding patient referral should be based primarily upon consideration of the needs and best interests of the patient. A physician's referral practice should never lead to exploitation of patients or third party payors. Referral to a health facility in which a physician has a financial interest is not in and of itself unethical.