International-Code-of-Medical-Ethics-2006

Handbook of WMA Policies
World Medical Association ⏐ D-1949-01-2006
WMA INTERNATIONAL CODE OF MEDICAL ETHICS
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 57th
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 pro-
fessional 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.
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Medical Ethics
Pilanesberg ⏐ D-1949-01-2006
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 re-
sources available to him/her. Whenever an examination or treatment is beyond the physi-
cian’s capacity, he/she should consult with or refer to another physician who has the neces-
sary 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 im-
minent 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 confi-
dentiality and be confined to necessary information.
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