Adopted by the 10th World Medical Assembly, Havana, Cuba, October 1956, and
Edited by the 11th World Medical Assembly, Istanbul, Turkey, October 1957, and
Amended by the 35th World Medical Assembly, Venice, Italy, October 1983 and
The WMA General Assembly, Tokyo 2004, and
Editorially revised at the 173rd Council Session, Divonne-les-Bains, France, May 2006

1. Medical ethics in times of armed conflict is identical to medical ethics in times of peace, as stated in the International Code of Medical Ethics of the WMA. If, in performing their professional duty, physicians have conflicting loyalties, their primary obligation is to their patients; in all their professional activities, physicians should adhere to international conventions on human rights, international humanitarian law and WMA declarations on medical ethics.
   
   
2. The primary task of the medical profession is to preserve health and save life. Hence it is deemed unethical for physicians to:
   1. Give advice or perform prophylactic, diagnostic or therapeutic procedures that are not justifiable for the patient's health care.
   2. Weaken the physical or mental strength of a human being without therapeutic justification.
   3. Employ scientific knowledge to imperil health or destroy life.
   4. Employ personal health information to facilitate interrogation.
   5. Condone, facilitate or participate in the practice of torture or any form of cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment.
      
      
3. During times of armed conflict, standard ethical norms apply, not only in regard to treatment but also to all other interventions, such as research. Research involving experimentation on human subjects is strictly forbidden on all persons deprived of their liberty, especially civilian and military prisoners and the population of occupied countries.
   
   
4. The medical duty to treat people with humanity and respect applies to all patients. The physician must always give the required care impartially and without discrimination on the basis of age, disease or disability, creed, ethnic origin, gender, nationality, political affiliation, race, sexual orientation, or social standing or any other similar criterion.
   
   
5. 5. Governments, armed forces and others in positions of power should comply with the Geneva Conventions to ensure that physicians and other health care professionals can provide care to everyone in need in situations of armed conflict. This obligation includes a requirement to protect health care personnel.
   
   
6. 6. As in peacetime, medical confidentiality must be preserved by the physician. Also as in peacetime, however, there may be circumstances in which a patient poses a significant risk to other people and physicians will need to weigh their obligation to the patient against their obligation to other individuals threatened.
   
   
7. Privileges and facilities afforded to physicians and other health care professionals in times of armed conflict must never be used for other than health care purposes.
   
   
8. Physicians have a clear duty to care for the sick and injured. Provision of such care should not be impeded or regarded as any kind of offence. Physicians must never be prosecuted or punished for complying with any of their ethical obligations.
   
   
9. Physicians have a duty to press governments and other authorities for the provision of the infrastructure that is a prerequisite to health, including potable water, adequate food and shelter.
   
   
10. Where conflict appears to be imminent and inevitable, physicians should, as far as they are able, ensure that authorities are planning for the repair of the public health infrastructure in the immediate post-conflict period.
    
    
11. In emergencies, physicians are required to render immediate attention to the best of their ability. Whether civilian or combatant, the sick and wounded must receive promptly the care they need. No distinction shall be made between patients except those based upon clinical need.
    
    
12. Physicians must be granted access to patients, medical facilities and equipment and the protection needed to carry out their professional activities freely. Necessary assistance, including unimpeded passage and complete professional independence, must be granted.
    
    
13. In fulfilling their duties, physicians and other health care professionals shall usually be identified by internationally recognized symbols such as the Red Cross and Red Crescent.
    
    
14. Hospitals and health care facilities situated in war regions must be respected by combatants and media personnel. Health care given to the sick and wounded, civilians or combatants, cannot be used for morbid publicity or propaganda. The privacy of the sick, wounded and dead must always be respected.

20.05.2006