Code of Ethics

This collection includes the historical record of the ADA Code of Ethics from 1866 to 2023. The ADA Code has three main components: The Principles of Ethics, the Code of Professional Conduct and the Advisory Opinions.

The Principles of Ethics are the aspirational goals of the profession. They provide guidance and offer justification for the Code of Professional Conduct and the Advisory Opinions. There are five fundamental principles that form the foundation of the ADA Code: patient autonomy, nonmaleficence, beneficence, justice and veracity. Principles can overlap and compete with each other for priority. More than one principle can justify a given element of the Code of Professional Conduct. Principles may at times need to be balanced against each other, but, otherwise, they are the profession's firm guideposts.
The Code of Professional Conduct is an expression of specific types of conduct that are either required or prohibited. The Code of Professional Conduct is a product of the ADA's legislative system. All elements of the Code of Professional Conduct result from resolutions that are adopted by the ADA's House of Delegates. The Code of Professional Conduct is binding on members of the ADA, and violations may result in disciplinary action.
The Advisory Opinions are interpretations that apply the Code of Professional Conduct to specific fact situations. They are adopted by the ADA's Council on Ethics, Bylaws and Judicial Affairs to provide guidance to the membership on how the Council might interpret the Code of Professional Conduct in a disciplinary proceeding.

After 1985, the Official Advisory Opinions and the ADA Principles of Ethics and Code of Professional Conduct are always published together as one document.

As of 2005, annual publication has ceased and since then new issues/editions are published only when revisions are made to the document. There were no revisions to the ADA Code 2006-2008 so no printed copies were issued during those years.

The most current issue is available on the ADA’s website.

Code of Ethics

Submissions from 2023 2023

Submissions from 2020 2020

Submissions from 2018 2018

Submissions from 2016 2016

Submissions from 2012 2012

Submissions from 2011 2011

Submissions from 2010 2010

Submissions from 2009 2009

Submissions from 2005 2005

Submissions from 2000 2000

Submissions from 1992 1992

Submissions from 1990 1990

Submissions from 1988 1988

Submissions from 1987 1987

Submissions from 1986 1986

Submissions from 1984 1984

Submissions from 1983 1983

Submissions from 1980 1980

Submissions from 1979 1979

Submissions from 1978 1978

Submissions from 1977 1977

Submissions from 1976 1976

Submissions from 1975 1975

Submissions from 1973 1973

Submissions from 1971 1971

Submissions from 1969 1969

Submissions from 1967 1967

Submissions from 1964 1964

Submissions from 1958 1958

Submissions from 1955 1955

Submissions from 1950 1950

Submissions from 1946 1946

Submissions from 1945 1945

Submissions from 1944 1944

Submissions from 1939 1939

Submissions from 1936 1936

Submissions from 1934 1934

Submissions from 1931 1931

Submissions from 1929 1929

Submissions from 1928 1928

Submissions from 1927 1927

Submissions from 1926 1926

Submissions from 1925 1925

Submissions from 1924 1924

Submissions from 1922 1922

Submissions from 1906 1906

Submissions from 1900 1900

Submissions from 1884 1884

Submissions from 1881 1881

Submissions from 1874 1874

Submissions from 1873 1873

Submissions from 1866 1866

Browse

Find

Resources