ASA Committee on Ethics: Serving the Society and the Profession for Almost 30 Years

The current ASA Committee on Ethics was formed in January 1992. Dr. Bob Stoelting was the first chair and was resurrecting the committee after it had been dissolved for several years due to a sad history of being a vehicle for economic objectives. This unfortunately occasionally happens today. After forming the committee, Dr. Stoelting quickly passed the reins to Dr. Stephen Jackson, who held the job from late 1992 until 2003. It was under Dr. Jackson's leadership that the Guidelines for the Ethical Practice of Anesthesiology were drafted and then approved by the House of Delegates. It should be noted that these are the only ASA guidelines that a member can be expelled for if they are not followed. For example, since truthfulness is an important aspect of the guidelines, if a member knowingly spreads disinformation about vaccines, that is an expellable offense. Ethical Guidelines for the Anesthesia Care of...