The American Board of Colon and Rectal Surgery (ABCRS) has implemented a new Code of Ethics and Professionalism Policy aimed at reducing diplomate burden and aligning with the ABMS Standards for Continuing Certification.
Certification by the ABCRS represents an obligation for the highest standard of ethical behavior and professionalism. ABCRS maintains that all patients are entitled to quality surgical care delivered in a professional and ethical manner.
The new Code of Ethics and Professionalism Policy replaces the previous Ethics and Professional Policy. To reduce the administrative load on diplomates, this new Policy eliminates the Chief of Staff evaluation requirement. Instead, diplomates will now be required only to provide an attestation.
All diplomates are required to review the Policy and complete the attestation during their next login to the ABCRS Diplomate Portal. Going forward, attestation will be required in your next 5-year certification cycle. Candidates for ABCRS certification will need to attest during the initial certification application process.
While ABCRS no longer will require the completion of the Chief of Staff Evaluation as part of the Continuing Certification requirements, diplomates will be required to submit the names and contact information for two references. These references may be contacted for additional information in the case of one of the following situations:
Diplomates and/or candidates who engage in any of these actions will be subject to review under the ABCRS disciplinary action process. Reporting violations does not automatically imply board action. The ABCRS Standards and Credentials Committee will review the circumstances to determine appropriate action, if any, and may include suspension or revocation of certification. Diplomates must fully cooperate in any ABCRS investigation.
Questions can be directed to the Board office via email abcrsadmin@abcrs.org or calling 734-282-9400.
Unethical and unprofessional behavior is denoted by any dishonest behavior, including: cheating; lying; falsifying information; misrepresenting one’s educational background, certification status and/or professional experience; and failure to report misconduct. The American Board of Colon and Rectal Surgery has adopted a “zero tolerance” policy toward these behaviors, and individuals caught exhibiting such behaviors risk being permanently barred from certification, reported to state medical boards, and/or legally prosecuted for copyright or other violations.
Unethical behavior is specifically defined by the ABCRS to include the disclosure, publication, reproduction or transmission of ABCRS examinations, in whole or in part, in any form or by any means, verbal or written, electronic or mechanical, for any purposes. This also extends to sharing examination information or discussing an examination while still in progress. Unethical behavior also includes the possession, reproduction or disclosure of materials or information, including examination questions or answers or specific information regarding the content of the examination, before, during or after the examination. This definition specifically includes the recall and reconstruction of examination questions by any means and such efforts may violate federal copyright law. All ABCRS examinations are copyrighted and protected by law; the ABCRS will prosecute violations to the full extent provided by law and seek monetary damages for any loss of examination materials.
