The Committee on Ethics, Grievances, and Professional Standards is a medical peer review committee that investigates allegations of member unethical conduct through a formal grievance process. Where appropriate, the committee may recommend practice modifications, including the identification of potential areas for improvement. The Society’s Bylaws state that “Members of the Society are subject to grievance review for the following apparent or alleged offenses:
(a) Violation of the Code of Medical Ethics of the Massachusetts Medical Society.
(b) Violation of the Principles of Medical Ethics of the American Medical Association.
(c) Presenting false certificates or false statements of character or of educational attainments.
(d) Engaging in conduct unbecoming a physician.”
The committee is also responsible for providing advice on ethical issues to the Society's leadership and members and assisting the Society in formulating ethical policy. At the House of Delegates' direction, the committee also conducts an Ethics Forum on current ethical issues twice yearly, at each regular meeting of the House.
Please note special circumstances for medical students and resident physicians:
- One medical student and one resident physician may be appointed to the committee annually for a one-year term.
- The medical student member’s participation on the committee is limited to ethical policy matters, including the planning and participation in twice-yearly Ethics Forums and publications thereof.
- The resident physician member on the committee shall not have a vote in cases of grievance matters except when the member under investigation is also a resident physician.
- The appointment of a medical student to the committee shall be subject to the medical student’s submission of a letter from the dean of his or her medical school, approving that student’s participation on the committee.
- The appointment of a resident physician to the committee shall be subject to the resident’s submission of a letter from the head of his or her resident training program approving the resident’s participation on the committee.
The medical student and resident physician members of the committee will not be counted toward the quorum requirement; except that when the member under investigation is a resident physician; then the resident physician member shall be counted toward the quorum.
May 2014 MMS Ethics Forum
The Ethics of Hospitalist Medicine
Panelists discuss the advantages and disadvantages of hospital medicine. Excerpted from the Massachusetts Medical Society Ethics Forum, May 15, 2014.
Committee Members
T. Desmond Brown, Suffolk, Chair
Rebecca W. Brendel, Norfolk, Vice Chair
Michael S. Annunziata, Suffolk
Natasha H. Dolgin, Worcester
Jack T. Evjy, Middlesex North
Amy Fogelman, Charles River
Renu Goyal, Worcester
Subramanyan Jayasankar, Suffolk
John J. Walsh, Norfolk South
Resident and Fellow
Member: Subha Perni, Suffolk
Medical Student
Member: Xinmiao (Bridget) Yang, Worcester
Advisors
Ronald A. Arky, Suffolk
Andrew S. Levin, Hampden
MMS Staff Liaison
William Frank (wfrank@mms.org)
