Adopted by the 3rd General Assembly of
the World Medical Association, London, England, October 1949
and amended by the 22nd World Medical Assembly Sydney, Australia,
August 1968
and the 35th World Medical Assembly Venice, Italy, October 1983
and the WMA General Assembly, Pilanesberg,
South Africa, October 2006
DUTIES OF PHYSICIANS IN GENERAL
| A PHYSICIAN SHALL |
always exercise his/her independent professional
judgment and maintain the highest standards of professional
conduct. |
| A PHYSICIAN SHALL |
respect a competent patient's right to accept
or refuse treatment. |
| A PHYSICIAN SHALL |
not allow his/her judgment to be influenced
by personal profit or unfair discrimination. |
| A PHYSICIAN SHALL |
be dedicated to providing competent medical
service in full professional and moral independence, with
compassion and respect for human dignity. |
| A PHYSICIAN SHALL |
deal honestly with patients and colleagues,
and report to the appropriate authorities those physicians
who practice unethically or incompetently or who engage in
fraud or deception. |
| A PHYSICIAN SHALL |
not receive any financial benefits or other
incentives solely for referring patients or prescribing specific
products. |
| A PHYSICIAN SHALL |
respect the rights and preferences of patients,
colleagues, and other health professionals. |
| A PHYSICIAN SHALL |
recognize his/her important role in educating
the public but should use due caution in divulging discoveries
or new techniques or treatment through non-professional channels.
|
| A PHYSICIAN SHALL |
certify only that which he/she has personally
verified. |
| A PHYSICIAN SHALL |
strive to use health care resources in the
best way to benefit patients and their community. |
| A PHYSICIAN SHALL |
seek appropriate care and attention if he/she
suffers from mental or physical illness. |
| A PHYSICIAN SHALL |
respect the local and national codes of ethics. |
DUTIES OF PHYSICIANS TO PATIENTS
| A PHYSICIAN SHALL |
always bear in mind the obligation to respect human life. |
| A PHYSICIAN SHALL |
act in the patient's best interest when providing medical
care. |
| A PHYSICIAN SHALL |
owe his/her patients complete loyalty and all the scientific
resources available to him/her. Whenever an examination or
treatment is beyond the physician's capacity, he/she should
consult with or refer to another physician who has the necessary
ability. |
| A PHYSICIAN SHALL |
respect a patient's right to confidentiality. It is ethical
to disclose confidential information when the patient consents
to it or when there is a real and imminent threat of harm
to the patient or to others and this threat can be only removed
by a breach of confidentiality. |
| A PHYSICIAN SHALL |
give emergency care as a humanitarian duty unless he/she
is assured that others are willing and able to give such care. |
| A PHYSICIAN SHALL |
in situations when he/she is acting for a third party, ensure
that the patient has full knowledge of that situation. |
| A PHYSICIAN SHALL |
not enter into a sexual relationship with his/her current
patient or into any other abusive or exploitative relationship. |
DUTIES OF PHYSICIANS TO COLLEAGUES
| A PHYSICIAN SHALL |
behave towards colleagues as he/she would have them behave
towards him/her.
|
| A PHYSICIAN SHALL |
NOT undermine the patient-physician relationship of colleagues
in order to attract patients. |
| A PHYSICIAN SHALL |
when medically necessary, communicate with colleagues who
are involved in the care of the same patient. This communication
should respect patient confidentiality and be confined to
necessary information. |
DECLARATION OF GENEVA
Adopted by the 2nd General Assembly of the World
Medical Association, Geneva, Switzerland, September 1948
and amended by the 22nd World Medical Assembly, Sydney, Australia,
August 1968
and the 35th World Medical Assembly, Venice, Italy, October 1983
and the 46th WMA General Assembly, Stockholm, Sweden, September
1994
and editorially revised at the 170th Council Session, Divonne-les-Bains,
France, May 2005 and
the 173rd Council Session, Divonne-les-Bains, France, May 2006
AT THE TIME OF BEING ADMITTED AS A MEMBER OF THE MEDICAL PROFESSION:
I SOLEMNLY PLEDGE to consecrate my life to the service of humanity;
I WILL GIVE to my teachers the respect and gratitude that is
their due;
I WILL PRACTISE my profession with conscience and dignity;
THE HEALTH OF MY PATIENT will be my first consideration;
I WILL RESPECT the secrets that are confided in me, even after
the patient has died;
I WILL MAINTAIN by all the means in my power, the honour and
the noble traditions of the medical profession;
MY COLLEAGUES will be my sisters and brothers;
I WILL NOT PERMIT considerations of age, disease or disability,
creed, ethnic origin, gender, nationality, political affiliation,
race, sexual orientation, social standing or any other factor
to intervene between my duty and my patient;
I WILL MAINTAIN the utmost respect for human life;
I WILL NOT USE my medical knowledge to violate human rights and
civil liberties, even under threat;
I MAKE THESE PROMISES solemnly, freely and upon my honour.
14.10.2006
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