ABTS approved a new Professionalism and Code of Conduct Policy. ABTS certification requires that the diplomate must respect and adhere to a professionalism code that reflects the ABTS mission to serve the public. The policy is outlined below.

Certification by The American Board of Thoracic Surgery (“ABTS” or “the Board”) informs the public that an ABTS certified surgeon (”Diplomate”) has, through rigorous training and examination standards, demonstrated the level of competence required to practice the specialty of Thoracic Surgery. In addition, Diplomates are required to meet the professionalism requirements established by the Board.

In general, Diplomates are expected to meet the following ethical and professional standards:

1. Provide patient-centered, compassionate treatment of patients and their families regardless of (without limitation) race, ethnicity, gender, age, sexual orientation, disability, national origin, socioeconomic status, or religion.
2. Assume responsibility for delivering safe, evidence-based care to patients and families while fostering trust and collaboration within the healthcare team.
3. Maintain their medical licensure in every jurisdiction in which they have been licensed (except where voluntarily surrendered while in good standing) and meet the continuing certification requirements defined by the ABTS and American Board of Medical Specialties (ABMS).
4. Comply with the requirements of any institution with which they are affiliated as they relate to medical staff privileges, employment, and other standards of conduct.
5. Comply with federal, state and local laws as they relate to the practice of medicine and community standards involving honesty, justice, and good moral values.

Candidate and Diplomate Reporting Requirements
ABTS Diplomates and surgeons who are engaged in the ABTS initial certification process are required to report any of the following to the ABTS within three (3) months of final action:

• Any alteration in status of, or other encumbrance on, a state or federal medical or drug license.
• Final disciplinary action by a state medical board or other licensing jurisdiction, including revocation, suspension, probation, or denial of, and/or conditions or restrictions on, a license to practice medicine.
• An admission of guilt, a plea of nolo contendere, an acceptance of probation without verdict (PWOV), a disposition in lieu of trial, an accelerated rehabilitative disposition (ARD), or a criminal conviction of any felony or misdemeanor involving moral turpitude or having a material relationship to the practice of medicine.
• Any criminal or civil penalty, adverse ruling by a state or federal administrative body, or adverse action by a voluntary association with respect to scientific misconduct (e.g., promoting disease misinformation, fabricating scientific data).
• Involuntary revocation, suspension, or restriction of privileges to prescribe controlled substances (e.g., DEA license).
• Involuntary termination, suspension, restriction, or denial of participation in any private, federal, or state health program (e.g., Medicare, Medicaid).
• Loss, denial, restriction, suspension or revocation of privileges within their place of employment.
• Termination of employment for cause.

ABTS Diplomates or surgeons engaged in the initial certification process who fail to report within the designated time frame may be subject to immediate action by the ABTS pending further review. All reports must be submitted by the Diplomate in writing to the ABTS via email at info@abts.org or by regular mail to ABTS, One North Wacker Drive, Suite 2402, Chicago, IL 60606.

ABTS Diplomates and candidates for certification who report having been notified of any final action set forth above, or any Diplomates or candidates for certification about whom the ABTS learns of such actions from a third party, may have their Diplomate status or candidacy reviewed by the ABTS. All Diplomates and candidates for certification must cooperate fully in any such review. ABTS, in its sole discretion, will determine whether any action will be taken.

ABTS Examinations
Lying, cheating, disclosing examination content, or in any other way failing to abide by examination policies as stipulated by the ABTS constitutes conduct inconsistent with the ethical and professional standards of ABTS. Such conduct may include the unauthorized disclosure, publication, reproduction or transmission of ABTS examinations, in whole or in part, in any form or by any means, verbal or written, electronic or mechanical, for any purposes, including in any examination review course, or having knowledge of such activity and failing to report it to ABTS, regardless of whether such activity affected the individual’s performance. It also extends to sharing examination information or discussing an exam while still in progress or at any time thereafter.

Conduct inconsistent with ABTS ethical and professional standards also includes the unauthorized possession, reproduction, or disclosure of materials or information, including exam questions or answers or specific information regarding the content of the examination, before, during, or after the examination. Such conduct specifically includes the recall and reconstruction of examination questions by any means.

The ABTS may take action against any Diplomate or candidate for certification demonstrating such conduct. Such action may include:

• having the candidate or Diplomate’s examination scores canceled.
• being permanently barred from taking ABTS examinations.
• being permanently barred from entering the ABTS certification process.

Any such action may result in the denial or revocation of certification.

All applicants and candidates for certification, as well as any Diplomates, must fully cooperate in any ABTS investigation into the validity, integrity, or security of ABTS examinations.

Adopted 06/30/2025