The functions of the Ethics Committee are:
- Work with the APA office of General Counsel to ensure that ethical complaints are handled in accordance with the Bylaws Chapter 7 and with The Principles of Medical Ethics With Annotations Especially Applicable to Psychiatry.
- Draft "Procedures for Handling Complaints of Unethical Conduct" and present for approval to the Assembly and to the Board of Trustees.
- Draft annotations to update The Principles of Medical Ethics with Annotations Especially Applicable to Psychiatry and present for approval to the Assembly and to the Board of Trustees.
- Respond to members' inquiries about ethical issues and publish as The Opinions of the Ethics Committee on The Principles of Medical Ethics with Annotations Especially Applicable to Psychiatry.
- Publish and keep up to date the Commentary on Ethics in Practice.
- Maintain contact with the "ethics network", i.e., the chairpersons of district branch ethics committees by means of mailings, meetings, workshops.
- Provide training to the DB Executives and Ethics Chairs on APA’s Procedures.
- Work with appropriate components to develop educational materials.
- Administers Carol Davis Ethics Award for the best publication on ethics.
Staff Liaison
- Alison Crane