Policy
WMA's Policies on Ethical and Social Issues
The Handbook of WMA Policy is issued as a record of the World Medical Association’s stance on a variety of ethical and social issues. The issues are usually important factors in human health and are relevant to physicians worldwide. Some of the Declarations have needed revision in light of new knowledge or to improve the sometimes awkward wording that inevitably occurs when people of different tongues deliberate together. This dynamic process shows that the WMA is a constantly evolving, unique organization, ideal to act as a protector of patients’ best interests, and as advocates for the medical profession.
- WMA International Code of Medical Ethics (revised)
- WMA Declaration of Berlin on Racism in Medicine
- WMA Declaration of Edinburgh on Prison Conditions and the Spread of Tuberculosis and Other Communicable Diseases (revised)
- WMA Declaration of Venice on End of Life Medical Care (revision)
- WMA Declaration on Discrimination against Elderly Individuals within Healthcare Settings
- WMA Declaration on Patient Safety (revised)
- WMA Statement on Assisted Reproductive Technologies (revised)
- WMA Statement on Digital Health (revised)
- WMA Statement on Health Hazards of Tobacco Products and Tobacco-Derived Products (revised)
- WMA Statement on Physicians Treating Relatives
- WMA Statement on Professional and Ethical Use of Social Media (revised)
- WMA Statement on the Global Burden of Chronic Disease (revised)
- WMA Statement on the Protection and Integrity of Medical Personnel in Armed Conflicts and Other Situations of Violence (revised)
- WMA Statement on Violence in the Health Sector by Patients and Those Close to Them (revised)
- WMA Resolution for Providing Covid-19 Vaccines for All
- WMA Resolution in support of Medical Personnel and Citizens of Ukraine in the face of the Russian invasion
- WMA Resolution on Humanitarian and Medical Aid to Ukraine
- WMA Resolution on Occupational and Environmental Health and Safety (revised)
Policies reaffirmed by the 220th Council Session, Paris (hybrid), April 2022 and the 221st Council Session, Berlin, October 2022
- WMA Statement on Safe Injections in Health Care (with minor revision)
- WMA Statement on Self-Medication (with minor revision)
- WMA Statement on the Ethical Implications of Collective Action by Physicians (with minor revision)
- WMA Resolution on Economic Embargoes and Health
- WMA Resolution on Medical Assistance in Air Travel (with minor revision)
- WMA Resolution on Prohibition of Forced Anal Examinations to Substantiate Same-Sex Sexual Activity (with minor revision)
- WMA Resolution on Tuberculosis (with minor revision)
Internal Guidelines adopted by the 220th Council Session, Paris (hybrid), April 2022 and the General Assembly, Berlin, October 2022
Policy Handbook English-Version 2022-2 (printed in October 2022; 8 MB)