Medical Ethics
Not yet clinically reviewed
This protocol was migrated from the earlier Pharmapedia and Ward Guide apps for educational use. Follow your hospital's own policies and consult seniors when in doubt.
Introduction
The rules of conduct, the medical men have to follow, are stated in the declaration of Geneva. The Medical Council of India has adopted this declaration and every medical graduate has to sign this declaration.
A medical practitioner should not indulge in unethical practices, some of which are given below:
- Employing or assisting unqualified person.
- Soliciting practice by way of advertisement.
- Developing sexual relationship with patient or the attendant.
- Associating with illegal abortion.
- Being under the influence of alcohol while practicing.
- Selling medicine on other doctor’s prescriptions.
- Issuing false medical certificate.
- Contravening the drugs act and getting addicted to drugs.
- Failure to maintain professional secrecy.
- Prenatal sex determination for female feticides without medical indication.
- Associating with trading in human organs. A medical practitioner found guilty of professional misconduct is liable to be punished by state medical council by warning or temporary or permanent removal of name from medical register.
TO PREVENT OCCURRENCE OF MEDICAL NEGLIGENCE
- Exercise reasonable skill and care.
- Obtain informed consent of the patient.
- Maintain medical records.
- Confirm medical records.
- Perform sensitivity test before injecting drugs likely to produce anaphylactic shock.
- Ensure preoperative, postoperative and antenatal care.
- Do not fail to see a patient who needs medical attention.
- Seek consultation whenever appropriate.
- Do not criticize another medical practitioner.
- Keep informed of the recent advances in medicine.