The American Medical Association (AMA) is the professional organization of physicians in the United States. Besides providing a group voice to physicians, it promotes the art and science of medicine and improve public health.

To reach this goal, the AMA devotes much of its resources to gathering, synthesizing and distributing current information on health and the practice of medicine, to setting standards for medical ethics, to fostering medical education, and to serving as an advocate for physicians and patients.

The AMA was founded in 1847, and today encompasses approximately 297,000 members in 54 state groups. Its headquarters are in Chicago, with additional offices in New York City and Washington, D.C.

In today's complex medical world, ethical issues confront practitioners almost daily. As technology speeds ahead, the need for ethical guidance becomes even more important. The AMA provides ethical guidance to physicians through its "Principals of Medical...