Code of Ethics

Preamble

This Code of Ethics defines the principles of professional conduct expected of members within the International Surgical Sleep Society. The statements and principles contained herein are not laws, but rather guidelines for honorable behavior. We believe that these ethical principles should be honored by all members with the intent of maintaining good standing in the society.

1. Primacy of the Patient

• The patient’s best interest is the foremost consideration in all professional actions.
• Care must be delivered with competence, respect, dignity, honesty, compassion, and equity.
• Discrimination of any kind is unacceptable.
• Patient autonomy, informed consent, confidentiality, and privacy must be always respected.
• Physicians must not abandon patients and must ensure continuity of care.

2. Professional Competence and Integrity

• Physicians must maintain professional competence through continuous education and self-assessment.
• Practice must reflect one’s actual training, experience, and qualifications.
• Dishonest, misleading, or fraudulent practices are unacceptable.
• Fees must be lawful, fair, and proportionate to services rendered; vital care must not be denied due to inability to pay.

3. Ethical Professional Conduct

• Physicians must act with prudence, diligence, beneficence, non-maleficence, justice, and empathy.
• Appropriate professional boundaries must be maintained; exploitation of patient vulnerability is prohibited.
• Impaired physicians must withdraw from affected practice areas and seek appropriate care.
• Illegal or unethical conduct must be reported through appropriate channels.

4. Relationships with Colleagues and Institutions

• Professional interactions must be based on respect, honesty, collaboration, and loyalty.
• Consultation and referral should be sought when in the patient’s best interest.
• Disparagement of colleagues and unfair competition are unacceptable.
• Physicians should support colleagues in upholding ethical standards.

5. Conflicts of Interest and Commercial Relationships

• Clinical judgment must remain independent and patient centered.
• All actual or potential conflicts of interest must be disclosed.
• Financial or commercial interests must never supersede patient welfare.
• Relationships with industry must be transparent and must not influence prescribing, referrals, research, or education.

6. Advertising, Promotion, and Public Communication

• Advertising is permitted only if truthful, objective, and not misleading.
• Claims must not exaggerate outcomes, uniqueness, or professional superiority.
• Price promotions, discounts, raffles, or inducements related to medical services are unethical.
• Public communications must preserve the dignity of the profession and protect patient confidentiality.

7. Social Media and Digital Conduct

• Online professional activity is subject to the same ethical standards as clinical practice.
• Content must be scientifically accurate, respectful, and evidence based.
• Excessive self-promotion, misinformation, and breaches of confidentiality are prohibited.

8. Research, Innovation, and Scientific Dissemination

• Research must follow ethical, legal, and scientific standards and prioritize human dignity.
• Informed consent, transparency, and institutional approval are mandatory.
• Conflicts of interest in research must be disclosed.
• Scientific authorship must reflect genuine contribution.
• Dissemination should occur through reputable, peer-reviewed channels.

9. Leadership, Social Responsibility, and Sustainability

• Physicians are health advocates and leaders within society.
• They should promote public health education, prevention, and evidence-based practices.
• Resources must be used responsibly to support sustainable healthcare systems.
• New technologies must be adopted ethically, enhancing care without increasing inequity or dehumanization.

10. Professional Well-Being

• Physician well-being is essential to safe, effective care.
• Healthy work environments, work-life balance, and mental health support must be promoted.
• Burnout, fatigue, and stress should be actively addressed at individual and organizational levels.

11. Accountability and Professional Responsibility

• Physicians must comply with applicable laws and professional regulations.
• Ethical violations may result in disciplinary action by professional bodies.
• Physicians serving as expert witnesses must provide objective, truthful, and evidence-based testimony, free from outcome-based compensation.

Commitment

Adherence to this Code is a shared professional responsibility. Through ethical conduct, integrity, and excellence, each member contributes to patient trust, professional dignity, and the advancement of surgery for obstructive sleep apnea.