S-1998-02-2010_OVE

Handbook of WMA Policies
World Medical Association ⏐ S-1998-02-2010
WMA STATEMENT
ON
MEDICAL CARE FOR REFUGEES, INCLUDING ASYLUM SEEKERS,
REFUSED ASYLUM SEEKERS AND UNDOCUMENTED MIGRANTS,
AND INTERNALLY DISPLACED PERSONS
Adopted by the 50th
World Medical Assembly, Ottawa, Canada, October 1998
reaffirmed by the 59th
WMA General Assembly, Seoul, Korea, October 2008
and amended by the 61st
WMA General Assembly, Vancouver, Canada, October 2010
PREAMBLE

International and civil conflicts as well as poverty and hunger result in large numbers of
refugees, including asylum seekers, refused asylum seekers and undocumented migrants,
as well as internally displaced persons (IDPs) in all regions. These persons are among the
most vulnerable in society.
International codes of human rights and medical ethics, including the WMA Declaration
of Lisbon on the Rights of the Patient, declare that all people are entitled without discrimi-
nation to appropriate medical care. However, national legislation varies and is often not in
accordance with this important principle.
STATEMENT

Physicians have a duty to provide appropriate medical care regardless of the civil or poli-
tical status of the patient, and governments should not deny patients the right to receive
such care, nor should they interfere with physicians’ obligation to administer treatment on
the basis of clinical need alone.
Physicians cannot be compelled to participate in any punitive or judicial action involving
refugees, including asylum seekers, refused asylum seekers and undocumented migrants,
or IDPs or to administer any non-medically justified diagnostic measure or treatment, such
as sedatives to facilitate easy deportation from the country or relocation.
Physicians must be allowed adequate time and sufficient resources to assess the physical
and psychological condition of refugees who are seeking asylum.
National Medical Associations and physicians should actively support and promote the
right of all people to receive medical care on the basis of clinical need alone and speak out
against legislation and practices that are in opposition to this fundamental right.