Where the line is: The ethical limits of physician investing

Where the line is: The ethical limits of physician investing
Medscape; by Donavyn Coffey;10/24/25
So where is the legal and ethical line? Medscape Medical News spoke with physicians, entrepreneurs, and financial experts to explore how doctors can grow their wealth without putting their patients or their credibility at risk. [The article discusses:]

• Low-risk investments
• Where conflicts arise
• Ethics beyond the law
• Transparency and alignment

When weighing the ethics of a potential investment, [John Shufeldt, MD] said physicians can always come back to the mission. “If your investments align with the same core mission that drives your medical practice — improving care, reducing costs, expanding access — you’re more likely to stay on the right ethical side of the line.” Ultimately, physicians’ most valuable investment remains the one they make in their patients’ trust.