

Ethics Guidelines

On three occasions dating back more than 20 years, AACC’s Board of Directors has endorsed 10 principles of ethical conduct covering standards of professional conduct and development, healthcare practice, and research for the laboratory medicine profession. These guiding statements reflect the Association’s commitment to improving health and healthcare.


Members of the American Association for Clinical Chemistry endorse the following principles of ethical conduct in their profession, including clinical procedures, research and development, teaching, management, administration, and other forms of professional service:

Principles of Ethical Conduct

I will:

  1. Uphold standards of professionalism, be honest in all professional endeavors, and maintain a high level of personal integrity.
  2. Avoid scientific and professional misconduct including, but not limited to fraud, fabrication, plagiarism, concealment, inappropriate omission of information, and making false or deceptive statements.
  3. Report any health care professional who engages in fraud or deception or whose deficiency in character or competence jeopardizes patient care or other personnel.
  4. Maintain a high level of quality in the product(s) of my professional endeavors, including validity and reliability of test results, interpretive opinions, publications, and scientific research.
  5. Respect the privacy and confidentiality of protected health information encountered during the course of my professional activities in accordance with legal and ethical obligations.
  6. Continuously strive to augment my professional qualifications, knowledge, and skills, and present them accurately.
  7. Promote the safety and welfare of patients, employees, co-workers, colleagues, the public, and the environment.
  8. Avoid, or promptly disclose and work to resolve, actual or potential conflicts of interest.
  9. Encourage open and honest discussion among physicians, other healthcare providers and/or facility managers regarding disclosure to patients of information about medical errors, if such information is material to any patient's well-being.
  10. Comply with relevant laws and seek to change them when they are contrary to the best interests of the patient.

Adopted by the AACC Board of Directors
June 15-17, 1990
Reaffirmed with editorial changes July 19, 2003
Reaffirmed with editorial changes November 9, 2007