Professionalism and Ethics
Ethics and medicine have been intertwined since the dawn of our profession. From the ancient Hippocratic Oath to the principle of primum non nocere to modern-day principlism, medical ethics have evolved over time.
As public and professional interest in medical ethics increases, it is important for clinicians, researchers, and educators to maintain a clear and consistent understanding of the ethical principles underlying the practice of medicine in the twenty-first century.
There are many valid ways to consider ethical issues and to elevate the profile of ethical decision-making without forcing dermatologists into a single way of approaching medical ethics.
As such, the Academy has a five-part statement which was ratified by the AAD Board of Directors. The statement sets the basic framework for an ethical practice; it is not designed to set unattainable or unrealistic standards. As such, it is hoped that AAD members will strive to adhere to this statement as an acceptable standard of conduct. The statement symbolizes our commitment to ethical practice; not only to each other, but also to colleagues in other fields and the public at large.
The Ethics Statement
In acting as a dermatologist, I will strive to:
Put my patients’ welfare above other interests;
Provide care that adheres to professional standards of practice;
Provide care for those in need;
Foster collegiality, through my interaction with the medical community; and
Support diversity, equity, and inclusion.
Member Resources
Are you planning a talk or educational program and would like to consult with a colleague on how to incorporate ethics and or professionalism? Do you have an ethics problem and want to see if similar topics have been discussed in JAAD ethics articles? Planning an ethics journal club? Please view the topics below, or access a PDF of the same member ethics resources.
Academic & scholarly
Clinical trials
Choi JM, Salter SA, Kimball AB. Innovative care, medical research, and the ethics of informed consent. J Am Acad Dermatol. 2007 Feb;56(2):330-2. doi: 10.1016/j.jaad.2006.08.070. Epub 2006 Nov 13. PMID: 17224375.
Madsen S, Shahriari M. Healing or stealing: Ethical issues surrounding subjectivity and "fudging" in clinical trials in dermatology. J Am Acad Dermatol. 2019 Dec;81(6):1457. doi: 10.1016/j.jaad.2019.02.032. Epub 2019 Feb 18. PMID: 30790599.
Perlis CS, Harwood M, Perlis RH. Extent and impact of industry sponsorship conflicts of interest in dermatology research. J Am Acad Dermatol. 2005 Jun;52(6):967-71. doi: 10.1016/j.jaad.2005.01.020. PMID: 15928613.
Maintenance of Certification
Stoff BK, Bercovitch L, Grant-Kels JM. Maintenance of Certification: A grandfatherly ethical analysis. J Am Acad Dermatol. 2018 Mar;78(3):627-630. doi: 10.1016/j.jaad.2017.09.077. Epub 2017 Nov 1. PMID: 29102492.
Medical student education
Baranowski MLH, Stoff BK. Should medical students follow up on skin biopsy results? When education conflicts with patient privacy. J Am Acad Dermatol. 2018 Jun;78(6):1229-1231. doi: 10.1016/j.jaad.2017.09.028. PMID: 29754891.
James JF, MacKelfresh JB, Stoff BK. Dermatology resident application photos: A trigger of implicit bias? J Am Acad Dermatol. 2021 Apr;84(4):1210-1211. doi: 10.1016/j.jaad.2020.04.115. Epub 2020 Apr 28. PMID: 32360714.
Muzumdar S, Grant-Kels JM, Feng H. The ethical conundrum of writing a recommendation letter for someone you would not recommend. J Am Acad Dermatol. 2020 May;82(5):1270-1271. doi: 10.1016/j.jaad.2020.01.053. Epub 2020 Jan 30. PMID: 32006599.
Smith RJ, Lipoff JB. "Pretend you didn't hear that"--managing ethical dilemmas from the bottom of a medical hierarchy. J Am Acad Dermatol. 2016 Apr;74(4):766-8. doi: 10.1016/j.jaad.2015.11.037. PMID: 26979360.
Tassavor M, Grant-Kels JM. The student is in: Ethical concerns when dermatology patients refuse medical students. J Am Acad Dermatol. 2018 May;78(5):1026-1028. doi: 10.1016/j.jaad.2017.09.025. PMID: 29678376.
Waldman RA, Waldman SD, Grant-Kels J. Residency Applicant Photographs: Why Do We Ask for Them? J Am Acad Dermatol. 2021 Jul 13:S0190-9622(21)02096-X. doi: 10.1016/j.jaad.2021.05.062. Epub ahead of print. PMID: 34271029.
Publishing and authorship
Elston DM. Authorship. J Am Acad Dermatol. 2018 Dec;79(6):1025. doi: 10.1016/j.jaad.2017.11.008. Epub 2017 Nov 9. PMID: 29128464.
Elston DM. Ethics and fairness during the review and publication process. J Am Acad Dermatol. 2019 Mar;80(3):605. doi: 10.1016/j.jaad.2017.11.011. Epub 2017 Nov 9. PMID: 29128462.
Elston DM, Grant-Kels JM, Levin N, Alam M, Altman EM, Brodell RT, Fernandez AP, Hurley MY, Maize J, Ratner D, Schaffer J, Kantor J. Fairness and transparency in medical journals. J Am Acad Dermatol. 2021 Jul;85(1):31-32. doi: 10.1016/j.jaad.2020.10.027. Epub 2020 Nov 4. PMID: 33157176.
Grant-Kels JM, Peters MS. Ethical implications of senior authorship. J Am Acad Dermatol. 2021 Apr 21:S0190-9622(21)00889-6. doi: 10.1016/j.jaad.2021.04.051. Epub ahead of print. PMID: 33894316.
Larsen AJ, Finch J, Grant-Kels JM. Who wrote this paper? The ethical issues of authorship. J Am Acad Dermatol. 2017 May;76(5):1006-1008. doi: 10.1016/j.jaad.2016.11.040. PMID: 28411768.
Motosko CC, Ault AK, Kimberly LL, Zakhem GA, Gothard MD, Ho RS, Hazen A. Analysis of spin in the reporting of studies of topical treatments of photoaged skin. J Am Acad Dermatol. 2019 Feb;80(2):516-522.e12. doi: 10.1016/j.jaad.2018.04.034. Epub 2018 Apr 22. PMID: 29689326.
Farris PK, Green BA, Edison BL. Response to “Analysis of spin in the reporting of topical treatments of photoaged skin”. J Am Acad Dermatol. 2018 Aug; 80(2):e35-36, doi: 10.1016/j.jaad.2018.07.039.
Perkins AC, Choi JM, Kimball AB. Reporting of ethical review of clinical research submitted to the Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology. J Am Acad Dermatol. 2007 Feb;56(2):279-84. doi: 10.1016/j.jaad.2006.08.072. Epub 2006 Nov 13. PMID: 17224370.
Shahriari N, Grant-Kels JM, Payette MJ. Predatory journals: How to recognize and avoid the threat of involvement with these unethical "publishers". J Am Acad Dermatol. 2016 Sep;75(3):658-659. doi: 10.1016/j.jaad.2016.04.056. PMID: 27543229.
Resident education
Aldrich N, Mostow E. Incorporating teaching dermatoethics in a busy outpatient clinic. J Am Acad Dermatol. 2011 Aug;65(2):423-424. doi: 10.1016/j.jaad.2010.06.050. PMID: 21763567.
Bercovitch L, Grant-Kels JM. Romance, love, and sex in the dermatology department and residency program. J Am Acad Dermatol. 2018 Jan;78(1):220-222. doi: 10.1016/j.jaad.2017.03.048. PMID: 29241795.
Bercovitch L, Long TP. Dermatoethics: a curriculum in bioethics and professionalism for dermatology residents at Brown Medical School. J Am Acad Dermatol. 2007 Apr;56(4):679-82. doi: 10.1016/j.jaad.2006.12.016. PMID: 17367619.
Cossman JP, Wang M, Fischer AA. Supervision, autonomy, and medical error in the teaching clinic. J Am Acad Dermatol. 2018 Nov;79(5):981-983. doi: 10.1016/j.jaad.2017.12.033. Epub 2017 Dec 19. PMID: 29273491.
DeWane ME, Lin G, Grant-Kels JM. Are financial incentives for interview swaps a candidate's right or an unethical practice? J Am Acad Dermatol. 2020 Apr;82(4):1037-1038. doi: 10.1016/j.jaad.2019.12.009. Epub 2019 Dec 10. PMID: 31836561.
Grant-Kels JM, Kels BD. The inner golfer in dermatology: "you might as well praise me for not robbing banks": airplane notes and the Board certifying examination. J Am Acad Dermatol. 2012 Aug;67(2):276-8. doi: 10.1016/j.jaad.2012.03.028. PMID: 22794804.
Hussain A, Grant-Kels JM. The emboldened medical student: Ethical dilemmas in a university clinic. J Am Acad Dermatol. 2019 Jul;81(1):284-286. doi: 10.1016/j.jaad.2017.09.073. Epub 2017 Oct 12. PMID: 29032118.
Lam C, Crites JS, Clarke JT, Miller JJ, Kirby JS. The use of donated products to train residents to perform injectable cosmetic procedures. J Am Acad Dermatol. 2014 Aug;71(2):382-5. doi: 10.1016/j.jaad.2014.04.059. PMID: 25037782.
LaRosa C, Grant-Kels JM. See one, do one, teach one: The ethical dilemma of residents performing their first procedure on patients. J Am Acad Dermatol. 2016 Oct;75(4):845-848. doi: 10.1016/j.jaad.2016.03.052. PMID: 27646747.
Lipoff JB, Grant-Kels JM. Should dermatology residents accept educational support sponsored or funded by pharmaceutical companies? J Am Acad Dermatol. 2013 May;68(5):854-7. doi: 10.1016/j.jaad.2012.10.025. PMID: 23602171.
Bercovitch L. Counterpoint: Should dermatology residents accept educational support sponsored or funded by pharmaceutical companies? J Am Acad Dermatol. 2013 May;68(5):866-7. doi: 10.1016/j.jaad.2012.10.033. PMID: 23602174.
Peart JM, Klein RS, Pappas-Taffer L, Lipoff JB. Parental leave in dermatology residency: ethical considerations. J Am Acad Dermatol. 2015 Oct;73(4):707-9. doi: 10.1016/j.jaad.2015.05.016. PMID: 26369847.
Stoff BK, Grant-Kels JM, Brodell RT, Paller AS, Perlis CS, Mostow E, Pariser D, Bercovitch L. Introducing a curriculum in ethics and professionalism for dermatology residencies. J Am Acad Dermatol. 2018 May;78(5):1032-1034. doi: 10.1016/j.jaad.2017.04.1121. PMID: 29678377.
Waldman RA, Grant-Kels JM. Exam of the future or exam of future cheating? Ethical issues surrounding the American Board of Dermatology's new certification examination. J Am Acad Dermatol. 2020 Mar;82(3):778-779. doi: 10.1016/j.jaad.2018.10.040. Epub 2018 Oct 27. PMID: 30393096.
Lee LA, Horn TD, Stratman EJ. Comment on: "Exam of the future or exam of future cheating? Ethical issues surrounding the American Board of Dermatology's new certification examination". J Am Acad Dermatol. 2020 Mar;82(3):e89. doi: 10.1016/j.jaad.2019.01.088. Epub 2019 Feb 15. PMID: 30776399.
Waldman R, Grant-Kels JM. Indentured servitude or junior faculty extension of a residency? An ethical evaluation of the 3 + 3 program structure. J Am Acad Dermatol. 2018 Apr;78(4):823-825. doi: 10.1016/j.jaad.2017.08.010. PMID: 29548420.
Waldman RA, Waldman SD, Grant-Kels J. Residency Applicant Photographs: Why Do We Ask for Them? J Am Acad Dermatol. 2021 Jul 13:S0190-9622(21)02096-X. doi: 10.1016/j.jaad.2021.05.062. Epub ahead of print. PMID: 34271029.
Treatment guidelines and conflicts of interest
Ackerman AB. Disclosure does not absolve! J Am Acad Dermatol. 2008 Apr;58(4):713-4. doi: 10.1016/j.jaad.2007.11.003. PMID: 18342724.
Chiaravalloti A, Kels BD, Grant-Kels JM. Ethical issues of honesty in advertising: Academic affiliation or exploitation? J Am Acad Dermatol. 2016 Sep;75(3):645-647. doi: 10.1016/j.jaad.2016.02.1166. PMID: 27543224.
Endo JO, Myers D, Stratman EJ. Conflict of interest and disclosure: Analysis of American Academy of Dermatology Annual Meetings. J Am Acad Dermatol. 2012 Jan;66(1):e20-1. doi: 10.1016/j.jaad.2011.04.009. PMID: 22177652.
Geronemus R. Ethics and the academic-corporate relationship. J Am Acad Dermatol. 1991 Feb;24(2 Pt 1):319-21. doi: 10.1016/s0190-9622(08)80635-4. PMID: 2007695.
Resnick SD. Ethics and the academic-corporate relationship. J Am Acad Dermatol. 1990 Feb;22(2 Pt 1):293-4. doi: 10.1016/s0190-9622(08)80759-1. PMID: 2312809.
Hart KL, Perlis RH, Perlis CS. Conflict of interest and citation impact among dermatology guideline authors. J Am Acad Dermatol. 2019 Mar;80(3):813-815. doi: 10.1016/j.jaad.2018.10.028. Epub 2018 Oct 24. PMID: 30367919.
Smith Begolka W, Elston DM, Beutner KR. American Academy of Dermatology evidence-based guideline development process: responding to new challenges and establishing transparency. J Am Acad Dermatol. 2011 Jun;64(6):e105-12. doi: 10.1016/j.jaad.2010.10.029. Epub 2011 Feb 1. PMID: 21281988.
Business & professional
Biomedical industry
Bercovitch L, Grant-Kels JM, Kels BD. Electronic health record donations by laboratories: is legal necessarily ethical? J Am Acad Dermatol. 2012 Mar;66(3):474-8. doi: 10.1016/j.jaad.2011.11.930. PMID: 22342016.
Grandhi R, Grant-Kels JM. Gifts: Are there strings attached? J Am Acad Dermatol. 2017 Sep;77(3):587-589. doi: 10.1016/j.jaad.2017.02.007. PMID: 28807119.
Sams WM, Freedberg IM. The dermatology-industry interface: defining the boundaries. J Am Acad Dermatol. 2000 Sep;43(3):550-4. doi: 10.1067/mjd.2000.107502. PMID: 10954674.
Difficult and unethical colleagues
Awan S, Grant-Kels JM, Graff J. Whose practice is this anyway? To conform or not to conform. J Am Acad Dermatol. 2016 Dec;75(6):1271-1273. doi: 10.1016/j.jaad.2016.07.033. PMID: 27846958.
Jinna S, Grant-Kels JM, Graff J. Ethical mutiny: When the captain of the ship is an outlier. J Am Acad Dermatol. 2017 Jun;76(6):1218-1220. doi: 10.1016/j.jaad.2016.11.054. PMID: 28522050.
Impaired colleagues
Grant-Kels JM, Kels BD. The impaired physician reporting dilemma: legal, moral, and ethical considerations for the practicing dermatologist. J Am Acad Dermatol. 2011 Oct;65(4):833-835. doi: 10.1016/j.jaad.2011.06.018. PMID: 21920243.
Kantor J, Rapini RP. Ethical approaches to possible unethical behavior in a physician colleague: A systematic approach. J Am Acad Dermatol. 2016 May;74(5):1026-8. doi: 10.1016/j.jaad.2015.11.038. PMID: 27085240.
Medico-legal concerns
Grant-Kels JM, Anderson JK, Kels BD. The unsolicited ominous diagnosis: legal, moral, and ethical considerations. J Am Acad Dermatol. 2012 Jun;66(6):985-7. doi: 10.1016/j.jaad.2011.12.026. PMID: 22583709.
Stoff BK, Cruze D, Swerlick RA. Reframing risk part I: Legal and ethical standards for medical risk disclosure. J Am Acad Dermatol. 2013 Oct;69(4):634-6. doi: 10.1016/j.jaad.2013.02.028. PMID: 24034367.
Vangipuram R, Horner ME, Menter A. Ethical dilemma in missed melanoma: What to tell the patient and other providers. J Am Acad Dermatol. 2017 Feb;76(2):365-367. doi: 10.1016/j.jaad.2016.08.030. PMID: 28089006.
Non-clinical revenue sources
Stoff BK. A case against in-office sales of skin care products. J Am Acad Dermatol. 2019 Aug 23:S0190-9622(19)32652-0. doi: 10.1016/j.jaad.2019.07.111. Epub ahead of print. PMID: 31449899.
Tracy LE, Conover S, Waldman RA. The ethics of photo licensing. J Am Acad Dermatol. 2021 Jun;84(6):1794-1795. doi: 10.1016/j.jaad.2021.01.013. Epub 2021 Jan 8. PMID: 33422629.
Other issues
Kirsch B, Grant-Kels JM, Bercovitch L. The ethics of "Top Doctor" awards: a tangled web. J Am Acad Dermatol. 2013 Nov;69(5):792-794. doi: 10.1016/j.jaad.2013.04.055. PMID: 24124807.
Wilson RG. Ethics and economics and the future of dermatology. J Am Acad Dermatol. 1987 Sep;17(3):532-8. doi: 10.1016/s0190-9622(87)80397-3. PMID: 3116047.
Patient fees and bills and overutilization
Anderson HJ, Keller M. Billing of botulinum toxin for hyperhidrosis: Ethical considerations. J Am Acad Dermatol. 2018 Apr;78(4):829-831. doi: 10.1016/j.jaad.2017.08.023. PMID: 29548422.
Belanger M, Grant-Kels JM. To fee or not to fee? The ethical issues of concierge medicine/dermatology. J Am Acad Dermatol. 2018 Mar;78(3):631-633. doi: 10.1016/j.jaad.2017.08.006. PMID: 29447682.
Jayakumar KL, Lipoff JB. Balancing patient care with profitability: Ethical considerations. J Am Acad Dermatol. 2017 Aug;77(2):382-384. doi: 10.1016/j.jaad.2017.02.004. PMID: 28711093.
Jinna S, Grant-Kels JM, Graff J. The ethics of mole miners. J Am Acad Dermatol. 2016 Nov;75(5):1072-1074. doi: 10.1016/j.jaad.2016.04.061. PMID: 27745638.
Morrell TJ, Konda S, Grant-Kels JM. The ethical issue of cherry-picking patients. J Am Acad Dermatol. 2019 May;80(5):1463-1465. doi: 10.1016/j.jaad.2018.05.1256. Epub 2018 Jun 12. PMID: 29906545.
Muzumdar S, Grant-Kels JM, Feng H. The ethics of charging patients for prior authorizations. J Am Acad Dermatol. 2020 Jun;82(6):1574-1575. doi: 10.1016/j.jaad.2020.01.060. Epub 2020 Feb 1. PMID: 32017946.
Naka F, Grant-Kels JM, Payette MJ. What costs nothing is worth nothing!: Is it okay to treat a benign lesion for free as part of an examination that involves treatment of several nonbenign lesions? J Am Acad Dermatol. 2015 Sep;73(3):518-20. doi: 10.1016/j.jaad.2015.04.045. PMID: 26282800.
Parikh SA, Grant-Kels JM. Ethical dilemma regarding more than one biopsy reimbursement. J Am Acad Dermatol. 2019 Jun;80(6):1801-1803. doi: 10.1016/j.jaad.2017.08.008. PMID: 31103161.
Stoff BK, Bercovitch L, Grant-Kels JM. The case for equal access to urgent dermatology appointments for Medicaid beneficiaries: when professional duty conflicts with economic reality. J Am Acad Dermatol. 2015 Jan;72(1):181-3. doi: 10.1016/j.jaad.2014.09.021. PMID: 25497919.
Physician wellness
Adler NR, Adler KA, Grant-Kels JM. Doctors' mental health, burnout, and suicidality: Professional and ethical issues in the workplace. J Am Acad Dermatol. 2017 Dec;77(6):1191-1193. doi: 10.1016/j.jaad.2017.07.011. PMID: 29132858.
Prescription related expenses
Alikhan A, Sockolov M, Brodell RT, Feldman SR. Drug samples in dermatology: special considerations and recommendations for the future. J Am Acad Dermatol. 2010 Jun;62(6):1053-61. doi: 10.1016/j.jaad.2009.07.053. Epub 2010 Feb 20. PMID: 20172623.
Gangal A, Stoff B. Costly savings: An ethical analysis of copay assistance programs in dermatology. J Am Acad Dermatol. 2021 Apr 21:S0190-9622(21)00892-6. doi: 10.1016/j.jaad.2021.04.054. Epub ahead of print. PMID: 33894321.
Jadoo SA, Lipoff JB. Prescribing to save patients money: Ethical considerations. J Am Acad Dermatol. 2018 Apr;78(4):826-828. doi: 10.1016/j.jaad.2017.08.012. PMID: 29548421.
Korman AM, Fabbro SK. Direct-to-consumer pharmaceutical services in dermatology: Ethical implications. J Am Acad Dermatol. 2021 Feb 26:S0190-9622(21)00424-2. doi: 10.1016/j.jaad.2021.02.059. Epub ahead of print. PMID: 33640509.
Prior authorizations
Jew OS, Okawa J, Barbieri JS, McCaffrey J, Hayward E, Werth VP. Evaluating the effect of prior authorizations in patients with complex dermatologic conditions. J Am Acad Dermatol. 2020 Dec;83(6):1674-1680. doi: 10.1016/j.jaad.2020.06.998. Epub 2020 Jul 2. PMID: 32622138; PMCID: PMC7936393.
Private equity
Bennett RG. Conflicts of interest for physician owners of private equity-owned medical practices. J Am Acad Dermatol. 2020 Jan;82(1):e35. doi: 10.1016/j.jaad.2019.09.033. Epub 2019 Sep 25. PMID: 31562944.
Self-referral
Grant-Kels JM. Dermatologists' blind side: the ethical implications of in-house dermatopathology laboratories. J Am Acad Dermatol. 2013 Dec;69(6):1046-8. doi: 10.1016/j.jaad.2013.09.008. PMID: 24238158.
Grant-Kels JM, VanBeek MJ. The ethical implications of "more than one way to skin a cat": increasing use of radiation therapy to treat nonmelanoma skin cancers by dermatologists. J Am Acad Dermatol. 2014 May;70(5):945-7. doi: 10.1016/j.jaad.2014.01.849. PMID: 24742838.
Supervision of non-physician providers
Jhorar P, Adwani SH, Grant-Kels JM. The ethical conundrum of supervising physician assistants at a distant site. J Am Acad Dermatol. 2018 May;78(5):1029-1031. doi: 10.1016/j.jaad.2017.10.008. Epub 2017 Oct 12. PMID: 29032120.
Clinical ethics
Children and adolescents
Chheda K, Yates B, Makkar HS, Grant-Kels JM. The tattoo removal ethical conundrum: Should a physician be part of a minor patient's punishment? J Am Acad Dermatol. 2017 Aug;77(2):385-387. doi: 10.1016/j.jaad.2017.02.006. PMID: 28711094.
Soh JM, Mercurio MG, Beck LA. Parental decisions for adolescent patients: Ethical considerations of information withholding. J Am Acad Dermatol. 2019 Jan;80(1):288-290. doi: 10.1016/j.jaad.2017.12.058. Epub 2017 Dec 29. PMID: 29291953.
Wolz MM. The modern minor: consent and decision-making in pediatric dermatology. J Am Acad Dermatol. 2013 Dec;69(6):1043-5. doi: 10.1016/j.jaad.2013.07.038. PMID: 24238157.
Cosmetic
Imadojemu S, Fiester AM. Are there moral obligations to cosmetic dermatology patients beyond informed consent? J Am Acad Dermatol. 2012 Jul;67(1):136-8. doi: 10.1016/j.jaad.2011.12.037. PMID: 22703906.
Konda S, Kathrotiya P, Grant-Kels JM. The blind patient and the cosmetic dermatology consultation: Who defines beauty? J Am Acad Dermatol. 2017 Apr;76(4):769-771. doi: 10.1016/j.jaad.2016.11.027. PMID: 28325400.
McBurney EI, Rosen DA. Ethics and lasers. J Am Acad Dermatol. 1988 Jul;19(1 Pt 1):135-7. doi: 10.1016/s0190-9622(88)80227-5. PMID: 3403737.
Dermatopathology
Adler NR, McLean CA, Gin D. The specimen that did not survive processing: Ethical considerations pertaining to open disclosure. J Am Acad Dermatol. 2017 Nov;77(5):988-990. doi: 10.1016/j.jaad.2017.03.032. PMID: 29029916.
Fabbro SK, Stoff BK. The dermatopathologist's role in genetic testing for hereditary cancer syndromes: Utility versus patient liberty. J Am Acad Dermatol. 2016 Jun;74(6):1282-5. doi: 10.1016/j.jaad.2015.12.046. PMID: 27185443.
Grant-Kels JM, Kels BD. The empty specimen bottle: legal, moral, and ethical considerations for the dermatologist and dermatopathologist. J Am Acad Dermatol. 2011 Sep;65(3):621-623. doi: 10.1016/j.jaad.2011.04.020. PMID: 21839317.
Disease specific concerns
Fabbro S, Aultman JM, Mostow EN. Delusions of parasitosis: ethical and clinical considerations. J Am Acad Dermatol. 2013 Jul;69(1):156-9. doi: 10.1016/j.jaad.2013.02.012. PMID: 23768288.
Freemyer B, Stoff B. Ethical challenges with treating nonadherent patients in a group practice setting. J Am Acad Dermatol. 2018 Sep;79(3):596-598. doi: 10.1016/j.jaad.2017.10.009. Epub 2017 Oct 14. PMID: 29037994.
Stoff BK, Introcaso C, Kinlaw K, Swerlick RA. Expedited partner therapy for scabies: legal and ethical considerations. J Am Acad Dermatol. 2013 Nov;69(5):795-798. doi: 10.1016/j.jaad.2013.05.021. PMID: 24124808.
Ethnic and religious minorities
Hussain A. Recommendations for culturally competent dermatology care of Muslim patients. J Am Acad Dermatol. 2017 Aug;77(2):388-389. doi: 10.1016/j.jaad.2017.03.004. PMID: 28711095.
Shahriari N, Lakdawala N, Grant-Kels JM. Multiculturalism and diversity: How to ethically care for a prejudiced patient. J Am Acad Dermatol. 2016 Jul;75(1):234-6. doi: 10.1016/j.jaad.2016.01.055. PMID: 27317529.
General/commentary
Kantor J, Lushniak BD. Commentary: Ethics in dermatology. J Am Acad Dermatol. 2016 Aug;75(2):443-4. doi: 10.1016/j.jaad.2015.12.033. PMID: 27444079.
Stoff BK, Scully K, Housholder AL, Fabbro S, Kantor J. The American Academy of Dermatology (AAD) Ethics Pledge: I will put my patients' welfare above all other interests, provide care that adheres to professional standards of practice, provide care for those in need, and foster collegiality through interaction with the medical community. J Am Acad Dermatol. 2016 Aug;75(2):445-8. doi: 10.1016/j.jaad.2016.02.1149. PMID: 27444080.
General medical dermatology exams
Baranowski MLH, Chisolm S, Stoff BK. Patient requests to alter the medical record. J Am Acad Dermatol. 2019 Oct;81(4):1032. doi: 0.1016/j.jaad.2018.10.017. Epub 2018 Oct 19. PMID: 30343049.
Grandhi R, Grant-Kels JM. Naked and vulnerable: The ethics of chaperoning full-body skin examinations. J Am Acad Dermatol. 2017 Jun;76(6):1221-1223. doi: 10.1016/j.jaad.2016.12.008. PMID: 28522051.
Grant-Kels JM. Ethical implications of optimizing presentation of expected treatment outcomes. J Am Acad Dermatol. 2020 Aug;83(2):701-702. doi: 10.1016/j.jaad.2019.07.065. Epub 2019 Jul 25. PMID: 31351885.
Elston DM. Admitting mistakes. J Am Acad Dermatol. 2020 Nov;83(5):1271. doi: 10.1016/j.jaad.2019.06.1285. Epub 2019 Jul 3. PMID: 31279020.
Kazemi T, Lee KC, Bercovitch L. Just a quick pic: Ethics of medical photography. J Am Acad Dermatol. 2019 Apr;80(4):1172-1174. doi: 10.1016/j.jaad.2018.01.006. Epub 2018 Jan 6. PMID: 29317284.
Lakdawala N, Bercovitch L, Grant-Kels JM. A picture is worth a thousand words: ethical dilemmas presented by storing digital photographs in electronic health records. J Am Acad Dermatol. 2013 Sep;69(3):473-5. doi: 10.1016/j.jaad.2013.03.017. PMID: 23957967.
Milam P, Korman A, Kaffenberger J. Frequent skin examinations in patients with actinic keratoses: Ethical, financial, and moral implications. J Am Acad Dermatol. 2017 Nov;77(5):985-987. doi: 10.1016/j.jaad.2017.03.005. PMID: 29029915.
Plost GR, Stoff BK. Medication nonadherence in dermatology: Divergent ethical implications for patient care. J Am Acad Dermatol. 2017 Oct;77(4):787-789. doi: 10.1016/j.jaad.2017.02.020. PMID: 28917470.
Ratner D, Thomas CO, Bickers D. The uses of digital photography in dermatology. J Am Acad Dermatol. 1999 Nov;41(5 Pt 1):749-56. doi: 10.1016/s0190-9622(99)70012-5. PMID: 10534639.
Boyd, AS. The alcoholic bus driver and the dermatology consultation: Legal, moral, and ethical considerations. J Am Acad Dermatol. 2016 Mar;74(3):580-3. doi: 10.1016/j.jaad.2015.11.050. PMID: 26892662.
Wolz MM, Drage LA. The unscheduled and incidental bystander: legal, moral, and ethical considerations in the office. J Am Acad Dermatol. 2013 Feb;68(2):332-4. doi: 10.1016/j.jaad.2012.09.019. PMID: 23317971.
Yang CS, Kroumpouzos G, Bercovitch L. Should self-destructive behavior affect a patient's access to scarce medical resources? J Am Acad Dermatol. 2015 Jul;73(1):154-7. doi: 10.1016/j.jaad.2015.03.026. PMID: 26089050.
Inpatient Dermatology
Korman AM, Grant-Kels JM. The ethics of navigating an inappropriately canceled inpatient dermatology consultation. J Am Acad Dermatol. 2021 Feb;84(2):585. doi: 10.1016/j.jaad.2020.09.080. Epub 2020 Oct 1. PMID: 33011315.
Older adults
Wang JV, Korta DZ, Keller M. Suspected early dementia and obstacles to informed consent in outpatient dermatology clinics. J Am Acad Dermatol. 2016 Nov;75(5):1075-1077. doi: 10.1016/j.jaad.2016.06.041. PMID: 27745639.
Pregnant patients
Dalton SR, Hicks M, Shabanowitz R, Elston DM. Ethical dilemmas in the management of tumor-stage mycosis fungoides in a pregnant patient. J Am Acad Dermatol. 2012 Apr;66(4):661-3. doi: 10.1016/j.jaad.2011.11.952. PMID: 22421113.
Special needs patients
Boyd AS. Ethical dilemmas and legal pitfalls in prescribing for the uninsured indigent patient: reconciling the reconcilable. J Am Acad Dermatol. 2013 Apr;68(4):679-680. doi: 10.1016/j.jaad.2012.05.045. PMID: 23522410.
Lester J, Sbicca JA, Bercovitch L. Ethical dilemmas and legal pitfalls in prescribing for the uninsured indigent patient: reconciling the irreconcilable. J Am Acad Dermatol. 2013 Apr;68(4):672-674. doi: 10.1016/j.jaad.2012.05.046. PMID: 23522407.
Grabell DA, Hebert AA. The case of the dog and the blue light. J Am Acad Dermatol. 2018 Oct;79(4):782-784. doi: 10.1016/j.jaad.2017.08.013. PMID: 30241626.
Tassavor M, Chen AY. Lost in translation: Caring for limited English proficiency patients. J Am Acad Dermatol. 2019 Mar;80(3):829-831. doi: 10.1016/j.jaad.2017.12.072. Epub 2018 Jan 4. PMID: 29307644.
Surgical
Bentivegna K, DeWane ME, Parikh SA, Makkar HS, Finch J. Animal product in suture material: A survey study of dermatology patient perspectives. J Am Acad Dermatol. 2020 Sep;83(3):907-908. doi: 10.1016/j.jaad.2019.12.025. Epub 2019 Dec 20. PMID: 31866265.
Waldman R, Grant-Kels JM. The art of being in 2 rooms at 1 time: Ethical issues with overlapping surgery. J Am Acad Dermatol. 2018 Jul;79(1):172-174. doi: 10.1016/j.jaad.2017.10.024. Epub 2017 Oct 21. PMID: 29066272.
Wang AS, Eisen DB. Surgical complications: disclosing adverse events and medical errors. J Am Acad Dermatol. 2013 Jan;68(1):144-6. doi: 10.1016/j.jaad.2012.09.008. PMID: 23244373.
Wolz MM. Two become one: Ethics in dermatologic surgery. J Am Acad Dermatol. 2015 Jun;72(6):1074-7. doi: 10.1016/j.jaad.2015.02.1137. PMID: 25981003.
Transgender patients
Sullivan P, Trinidad J, Hamann D. Issues in transgender dermatology: A systematic review of the literature. J Am Acad Dermatol. 2019 Aug;81(2):438-447. doi: 10.1016/j.jaad.2019.03.023. Epub 2019 Mar 15. PMID: 30885756.
Waldman RA, Waldman SD, Grant-Kels JM. The ethics of performing noninvasive, reversible gender-affirming procedures on transgender adolescents. J Am Acad Dermatol. 2018 Dec;79(6):1166-1168. doi: 10.1016/j.jaad.2017.12.052. Epub 2017 Dec 27. PMID: 29288100
Yeung H, Chen SC, Katz KA, Stoff BK. Prescribing isotretinoin in the United States for transgender individuals: Ethical considerations. J Am Acad Dermatol. 2016 Sep;75(3):648-651. doi: 10.1016/j.jaad.2016.03.042. PMID: 27543225.
Special topics
Alternate therapies
Liszewski W, Stoff BK, Farah RS. The ethics of medical marijuana in dermatology. J Am Acad Dermatol. 2018 Mar;78(3):634-636. doi: 10.1016/j.jaad.2017.08.033. PMID: 29447683.
Artificial intelligence and teledermatology
Coates SJ, Kvedar J, Granstein RD. Teledermatology: from historical perspective to emerging techniques of the modern era: part II: Emerging technologies in teledermatology, limitations and future directions. J Am Acad Dermatol. 2015 Apr;72(4):577-86; quiz 587-8. doi: 10.1016/j.jaad.2014.08.014. PMID: 25773408.
Kovarik C, Lee I, Ko J; Ad Hoc Task Force on Augmented Intelligence. Commentary: Position statement on augmented intelligence (AuI). J Am Acad Dermatol. 2019 Oct;81(4):998-1000. doi: 10.1016/j.jaad.2019.06.032. Epub 2019 Jun 25. PMID: 31247221.
Bystander dermatology
Bercovitch L. Should one offer an unsolicited dermatologic opinion? Ethics for the locker-room dermatologist. J Am Acad Dermatol. 2011 Jul;65(1):134-6. doi: 10.1016/j.jaad.2010.12.027. Epub 2011 May 4. PMID: 21536344.
Grant-Kels JM, Kels BD. The curbside consultation: legal, moral, and ethical considerations. J Am Acad Dermatol. 2012 May;66(5):827-9. doi: 10.1016/j.jaad.2011.12.025. PMID: 22507572.
Grushchak S, Grant-Kels JM. "Sweetheart, you should have that looked at:" Ethical implications of treating family members. J Am Acad Dermatol. 2019 Feb;80(2):571-573. doi: 10.1016/j.jaad.2017.12.067. Epub 2018 Jan 4. PMID: 29307638.
Kelsey A, Grant-Kels JM, Payette M. A high-tech ethical twist on the curbside consult. J Am Acad Dermatol. 2015 Feb;72(2):349-51. doi: 10.1016/j.jaad.2014.09.052. PMID: 25592342.
Clinical registries
Grant-Kels JM. Commentary: Clinical registries: The good, the bad, and the ugly. J Am Acad Dermatol. 2017 Jul;77(1):186-187. doi: 10.1016/j.jaad.2017.01.020. PMID: 28619565.
Community skin cancer screenings
Stoff BK, Grant-Kels JM. Valuable or vain: An ethical analysis of free skin cancer screening. J Am Acad Dermatol. 2017 Jan;76(1):177-180. doi: 10.1016/j.jaad.2016.04.027. PMID: 27986145.
COVID-19, epidemics, pandemics, and public health
Jayakumar KL, Lipoff JB. Declining care to unvaccinated patients: Ethical and legal considerations. J Am Acad Dermatol. 2017 Dec;77(6):1188-1190. doi: 10.1016/j.jaad.2017.07.010. PMID: 29132857.
Kong HE, Stoff BK. Approach to VIPs during the COVID-19 pandemic and beyond. J Am Acad Dermatol. 2020 Oct;83(4):1231-1232. doi: 10.1016/j.jaad.2020.07.012. Epub 2020 Jul 8. PMID: 32652189; PMCID: PMC7342046.
Pathoulas JT, Stoff BK, Lee KC, Farah RS. Ethical outpatient dermatology care during the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. J Am Acad Dermatol. 2020 May;82(5):1272-1273. doi: 10.1016/j.jaad.2020.03.047. Epub 2020 Mar 26. PMID: 32224276; PMCID: PMC7195559.
Stoj VJ, Grant-Kels JM. Dermatology residents and the care of patients with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). J Am Acad Dermatol. 2020 Jun;82(6):1572-1573. doi: 10.1016/j.jaad.2020.03.086. Epub 2020 Apr 4. PMID: 32259536; PMCID: PMC7128407.
iPLEDGE
Kelsey A, Finch J, Grant-Kels JM. I pledge to prescribe ethically. J Am Acad Dermatol. 2018 Apr;78(4):821-822. doi: 10.1016/j.jaad.2017.08.031. PMID: 29548419.
Lee KC, Bercovitch L. Circumventing iPLEDGE: Circumventing ethical responsibility? J Am Acad Dermatol. 2017 Dec;77(6):1185-1187. doi: 10.1016/j.jaad.2017.06.156. PMID: 29132856.
Medical emergencies
Adwani SH, Jhorar P, Grant-Kels JM. Is there a doctor onboard?: The ethical conundrum of a specialist asked to provide in-flight medical assistance. J Am Acad Dermatol. 2018 Aug;79(2):387-389. doi: 10.1016/j.jaad.2017.12.066. Epub 2018 Jan 4. PMID: 29307641.
Pre-transplantation
Murthy RK, Chisolm SS, Stoff BK. A pigmented lesion on a brain-dead organ donor: Should the dermatologist intervene before transplant? J Am Acad Dermatol. 2015 Dec;73(6):1062-5. doi: 10.1016/j.jaad.2015.08.032. PMID: 26568341.
Social media
Orenstein LA, Benabio J, Stoff BK. E-professionalism at the dermatology office: new challenges to confidentiality in the era of social networking. J Am Acad Dermatol. 2013 Jun;68(6):1030-3. doi: 10.1016/j.jaad.2012.12.962. PMID: 23680194.
Payette MJ, Albreski D, Grant-Kels JM. "You'd know if you 'friended' me on Facebook": legal, moral, and ethical considerations of online social media. J Am Acad Dermatol. 2013 Aug;69(2):305-7. doi: 10.1016/j.jaad.2013.02.024. PMID: 23866862.
Ranpariya V, Chu B, Fathy R, Lipoff JB. Dermatology without dermatologists? Analyzing Instagram influencers with dermatology-related hashtags. J Am Acad Dermatol. 2020 Dec;83(6):1840-1842. doi: 10.1016/j.jaad.2020.05.039. Epub 2020 May 13. PMID: 32416205.
Zhou J, Bercovitch L. Instagram and the dermatologist: An ethical analysis. J Am Acad Dermatol. 2018 Jun;78(6):1226-1228. doi: 10.1016/j.jaad.2017.08.036. PMID: 29754890.
Volunteerism
DeWane M, Grant-Kels JM. The ethics of volunteerism: Whose cultural and ethical norms take precedence? J Am Acad Dermatol. 2018 Feb;78(2):426-428. doi: 10.1016/j.jaad.2017.05.013. PMID: 29332719.
Chavez AB, Kovarik CL. Commentary: The ethics of volunteerism: Whose cultural and ethical norms take precedence? J Am Acad Dermatol. 2018 Feb;78(2):429-430. doi: 10.1016/j.jaad.2017.08.061. PMID: 29332720.
Stoff BK, McMichael JR. Short-term international volunteerism in dermatology: ethical considerations. J Am Acad Dermatol. 2014 Oct;71(4):822-5. doi: 10.1016/j.jaad.2014.03.026. PMID: 25219702.
Boyd AS. Reality in short-term international dermatology missions. J Am Acad Dermatol. 2015 Feb;72(2):369. doi: 10.1016/j.jaad.2014.10.044. PMID: 25592355.
Stoff BK, McMichael JR. Expanding the reality of short-term international volunteerism in dermatology. J Am Acad Dermatol. 2015 Feb;72(2):369-70. doi: 10.1016/j.jaad.2014.10.040. PMID: 25592356.
