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Adopted by the 17th World Medical Assembly
New York, USA, October 1963, and amended by the 35th World Medical
Assembly Venice, Italy, October 1983
et supprimée
à l'Assemblée générale de l'AMM, Pilanesberg,
Afrique du Sud, octobre 2006
PREAMBLE
Medical care is organized throughout the world in many different
ways, from the most complete laisser-faire, to medical services
organized exclusively and completely by the State.
It would be impossible to describe all the systems in detail,
but one may say that while some countries only help those in dire
need, others have organized a system of health insurance, and
others have gone even further in organizing complete medical care.
Personal initiative is associated in varying degrees with government
policies and action in the health care field, and this serves
to multiply indefinitely the ways in which medical care is provided.
The ideal, in this field, is certainly the "provision of
the most up-to-date medical care while entirely respecting the
freedom of both physician and patient".
A formula of this nature is however too imprecise to be of use
in solving the problems which arise in the daily application of
the various national systems (which exist whether one likes it
or not).
The WMA has a duty to safeguard the basic principles of medical
practice and defence of the freedom of the medical profession.
In consequence it cannot be expected to produce valued judgement
on the different systems, but has an overwhelming duty to decide
as far as it is possible, upon what terms the medical profession
can collaborate with State Health Services.
PRINCIPLES
- The conditions of medical practice in any system of health
care shall be determined in consultation with the representatives
of organizations of physicians.
- Any health care system should allow the patient to consult
the physician of his choice, and the physician to treat only
patients of his choice, without the rights of either being affected
in any way. The principle of free choice also should be applied
in cases where medical treatment or a part of it is provided
in treatment centers. Physicians have a compelling professional
and ethical duty to attend to a patient in an emergency.
- Any health care system should be open to all licensed physicians;
neither the medical profession nor the individual physician
should be forced to take part if they do not so wish.
- The physician should be free to practice his profession where
he wishes and also to limit his practice to a given specialty
in which he is qualified. The medical needs of the country concerned
should be satisfied and the profession, wherever possible, should
seek to orient young physicians toward the areas where they
are most needed. In cases where these areas are less favorable
than others, physicians who go there should be aided by appropriate
incentives so that their equipment is satisfactory and their
standard of living is in accordance with their professional
responsibilities.
- The profession should be adequately represented on all official
bodies dealing with problems concerning health or disease.
- The confidential nature of the physician-patient relationship
must be recognized and must be observed by all those who collaborate
at any stage of the patient's treatment or in the control thereof.
This should be duly respected by authority.
- The confidential nature of the physician-patient relationship
must be recognized and must be observed by all those who collaborate
at any stage of the patient's treatment or in the control thereof.
This should be duly respected by authority.
- When the remuneration for medical services in any national
health care system is not fixed by direct agreement between
physician and patient the remunerating authority must adequately
compensate the physician.
- The remuneration of medical services should take into consideration
the services rendered and should not entirely be fixed according
to the financial status of the paying authority or as a result
of unilateral government decisions and should be acceptable
to the agency which represents the medical profession.
- The review of physician's services for the purpose of quality
safeguards or the utilization of services both as to the number
and cost, should be carried out by physicians only and should
be measured against local or regional rather than national standards.
- In the higher interest of the patient there should be no
restriction of the physician's right to prescribe drugs or any
other treatment deemed appropriate by current medical standards.
- The physician should be encouraged to participate in any
activity directed toward improving his knowledge and status
in his professional life.
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