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Nepal Medical Council Code of Ethics |
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The Nepal Medical Council
passed a code of ethics which
all doctors registered under
it are to abide by. The code
is written as:
Declaration
The following declarations
should be read and agreed
to be abided by the applicant
at the time of registration.
-
I
solemnly pledge myself to
consecrate my life to the
service of humanity.
-
Even
under threat, I will not
use my knowledge contrary
to the laws of humanity.
-
I
will maintain the utmost
respect for human life from
the time of conception.
-
I
will not permit considerations
of sex, religion, nationality,
race, party-politics or
social standing to intervene
between my duty and my patient.
-
I
will practice my profession
with conscience and dignity.
-
The
health of my patient will
be my first consideration.
-
I
will respect the secrets
which are confided in me.
-
I
will give to my teachers
the respect and gratitude
which is their due.
-
I
will maintain by all means
in my practice, the honour
and noble traditions of
the medical profession.
-
My
colleagues will be my brothers.
-
I
make these promises solemnly,
freely and upon my honour.
Statements by the Professions
Physicians on Code of Ethics.
The Hippocratic
Oath (5th Century BC)
I swear by Apollo Physician
and Asclepius and Hygieia
and Panaceioa and all the
gods and goddesses, making
them my witnesses, that I
will fulfill according to
my ability and judgment this
oath and this covenant:
-
To
hold him who has taught
me this art as equal to
my parents and to live my
life in partnership with
him, and if he is in need
of money to give him a share
of mine, and to regard his
offspring as equal to my
brothers in male lineage
and to teach them this art-
if they desire to learn
it-without fee and covenant;
to give a share of precepts
and oral instruction and
all the other learning to
my songs and to the sons
of him who has instructed
me and to pupils who have
signed the covenant and
have taken an oath according
to the medical law, but
to no one else.
-
I
will apply dietetic measures
for the benefit of the sick
according to my ability
and judgment; I will keep
them from harm and injustice.
-
I
will neither give a deadly
drug to anybody if asked
for it, nor will I make
a suggestion to this effect.
Similarly I will not give
to a woman an abortive remedy.
Purity and holiness I will
guard my life and my art.
-
I
will not use the knife,
not even on sufferers from
stone, but will withdraw
In favour of such men as
are engaged in this work.
-
Whatever
houses I may visit, I will
come for the benefit of
the sick, remaining free
of all international injustice,
of all mischief and in particular
of sexual relations with
both female and male persons,
be they free or slaves.
-
What
I may see or hear in the
course of the treatment
in regard to the life of
men, which on no account
one must spread, I will
keep to myself holding such
things shameful to be spoken
about.
-
If
I fulfill this oath and
do not violate it , may
it be granted to me to enjoy
life and art, being honoured
with fame among all men
for all time to come; if
transgress it and swear
falsely, may the opposite
of all this be my lot.
World Medical Association
Declaration, Geneva (1948,
1968, 1983)
At the time of being admitted
as a member of the medical
profession:
-
I
SOLEMNLY PLEDGE myself to
consecrate my life to the
service of humanity;
-
I
WILL GIVE my teachers the
respect and gratitude which
is their due;
-
I
WILL PRACTICE my profession
with conscience and dignity;
-
THE
HEALTH OF MY PATIENT will
be my first consideration;
-
I
WILL RESPECT the secrets
which are confided in me,
even after the patient has
died;
-
I
WILL MAINTAIN by all means
in my power, the honour
and the noble traditions
of the medical profession;
-
MY
COLLEAGUES will be my brothers;
-
I
WILL NOT PERMIT considerations
of religion, nationality,
race, party politics or
social standing to intervene
between my duty and my patient;
-
I
WILL MAINTAIN the utmost
respect for human life from
its beginning even under
threat;
-
I
will not use my medical
knowledge contrary to the
laws of humanity;
-
I
MAKE THESE PROMISES solemnly,
freely and upon my honour;
International Code
of Medical Ethics (World Medical
Association London 1949 Sydney,
1968, Venice 1983)
Duties of Physician
in General
-
A
PHYSICIAN SHALL always maintain
the highest standards of
professional conduct.
-
A
PHYSICIAN SHALL not permit
motives of profit to influence
the free and independent
exercise of professional
judgment on behalf of patients.
-
A
PHYCICIAN SHALL, in all
types of medical practice,
be dedicated to providing
competent medical service
in full technical and moral
independence, with compassion
and respect for human dignity.
-
A
PHYSICIAN SHALL deal honestly
with patients and colleagues,
and strive to expose those
physicians deficient in
character or competence,
or who engage in fraud of
deception.
-
A
PHYSICIAN SHALL respect
the rights of patients,
of colleagues, and of other
health professionals, and
safeguard patient confidences.
-
A
PHYSICIAN SHALL act only
in the patient’s interest
when providing medical care
which might have the effect
of weakening the physical
and mental condition of
the patient.
-
A
PHYSICIAN SHALL use great
caution in divulging discoveries
or new techniques or treatment
through non-professional
channels.
-
A
PHYSICIAN SHALL certify
only that which he has personally
verified.
Duties of Physicians
to the Sick
-
A
PHYSICIAN SHALL always bear
in mind the obligation of
preserving human life.
-
A
PHYSICIAN SHALL owe his
patients complete loyalty
and all the resources of
his science. Whenever an
examination or treatment
is beyond the physician’s
capacity he should summon
another physician who has
the necessary ability.
-
A
PHYSICIAN SHALL preserve
absolute confidentiality
on all he knows about his
patient even after the patient
has died.
-
A
PHYSICIAN SHALL give emergency
care as a humanitarian duty
unless he is assured that
others are willing and able
to give such care.
Duties of Physicians
to each other
-
A
PHYSICIAN SHALL behave towards
his colleagues as he would
have them behave towards
him.
-
A
PHYSICIAN SHALL not entice
patients from his colleagues.
-
A
PHYSICIAN SHALL observe
the principles of the Declaration
of Geneva approved by the
World Medical Association.
The following practices
are deemed to be unethical
conduct
-
Self
advertising by physicians,
unless permitted by the
laws of the country and
the Code of Ethics of the
National Medical Association.
-
Paying
or receiving any fee or
any other consideration
solely to procure the referral
of a patients or for prescribing
or referring patient to
any source.
The Declaration of
Tokyo (World Medical Association
1975)
Guide lines for Medical Doctors
concerning torture and other
cruel, inhuman Degrading treatment
or punishment in relation
to Detention and Imprisonment.
It is the privilege of the
medical doctor to practice
medicine in the service of
humanity, to preserve and
restore bodily and mental
health without discrimination
as to persons, to comfort
and to ease the suffering
of his or her patients. The
utmost respect for human life
is to be maintained even under
threat, and no use made of
any medical knowledge contrary
to the laws of humanity.
For the purpose of this Declaration,
torture is defined as the
deliberate, systematic or
wanton infliction of physical
or mental suffering by one
or more person’s action
alone or on the orders of
any authority, to force another
person to yield information,
to make a confession or for
any other reason.
-
The
doctor shall not countenance,
condone or participate in
the practice of torture
or other forms of cruel,
inhuman or degrading procedures,
whatever the offense of
which the victim of such
procedures is suspected,
accused or guilty, and whatever
the victim’s beliefs
or motives, and in all situations,
including armed conflict
and civil strike.
-
The
doctor shall not provide
any premises, instruments,
substances or knowledge
to facilitate the practice
of torture or other forms
of cruel, inhuman or degrading
treatment or to diminish
the ability of the victim
to resist such treatment.
-
The
doctor shall not be present
during any procedure during
which torture or other forms
of cruel, inhuman or degrading
treatment is used or threatened.
-
A
doctor must have complete
clinical independence in
deciding upon the care of
a person for whom he or
she is medically responsible.
The doctor’s fundamental
role is to alleviate the
distress of his or her fellow
men, and no motive whether
personal, collective or
political shall prevail
against the higher purpose.
-
Where
a prisoner refuses nourishment
and is considered by the
doctor as capable of forming
an unimpaired and rational
judgment concerning the
consequences of such a voluntary
refusal of nourishment,
he or she shall not be fed
artificially. The decision
as to the capacity of the
prisoner to form such a
judgment should be confirmed
by at least one other independent
doctor. The consequences
of the refusal of nourishment
shall be explained by the
doctor to the prisoner.
-
The
World Medical Association
will support, and should
encourage the international
community, the national
medical associations and
fellow doctors to support
the doctor and his or her
family in the face of threats
or reprisals resulting from
a refusal to condone the
use of torture or other
forms or cruel, inhuman
or degrading treatment.
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