Ethics of residency programs and fellowships that electively withdraw from the National Resident Matching Program

Abstract

The National Resident Matching Program, known as "The Match" facilitates the placement of medical graduates into residency and fellowship programs in the United States. Programs may opt out of The Match for various reasons. The selective and intermittent withdrawal of programs from The Match raises ethical concerns surrounding fairness, transparency, beneficence, autonomy, and justice for applicants. We discuss these issues, present the history behind The Match, and offer suggestions to promote fairness.