PHYSICIAN DUTIES TOWARDS

HIMSELF AND HIS PROFESSION

Like all human beings, physicians have rights as well as responsibilities, and medical ethics would be incomplete if it did not consider how physicians should

be treated by others, whether patients, society or colleagues.

Over the years the WMA has adopted several policy statements on the rights of physicians and the corresponding responsibilities of others, especially governments, to respect these rights:

The 1984 Statement on Freedom to Attend Medical Meetings asserts that “there should… be no barriers which will prevent physicians from attending meetings of the WMA, or other medical meetings, wherever such meetings are convened.”

The 1986 Declaration on Physician Independence and Professional Freedom states, “Physicians must have the professional freedom to care for their patients without interference” and “Physicians must have the professional

freedom to represent and defend the health needs of patients against all who would deny or restrict needed care for

those who are sick or injured”.

The 1995 Statement on Professional Responsibility for Standards of Medical Care declares that “any judgment on a doctor’s professional conduct or performance must incorporate evaluation by the doctor’s professional peers who, by their training and experience, understand the complexity of the medical issues involved

The 1997 Declaration Concerning Support for Medical. Doctors Refusing to Participate in, or to Condone, the Use of Torture or Other Forms of Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment commits the WMA “to support and protect, and to call upon its National Medical Associations to support and protect, physicians who are resisting involvement in such inhuman procedures or who are working to treat and rehabilitate victims thereof, as well as to secure the right to uphold the highest ethical principles including medical confidentiality….”

The 2003 Statement on Ethical Guidelines for the International Recruitment of Physicians calls on every country to:

Do its utmost to retain its physicians in the profession as well as in the country by providing them with the support they need to meet their personal and professional goals, taking into account the country’s needs and resources”

Ensure that “Physicians who are working, either permanently or temporarily, in a country other than their home country… be treated fairly in relation to other physicians in that country (for example, equal opportunity career options and equal payment for the same work).”

“Physicians often forget that they have

responsibilities to themselves, and to

their families, as well.” Working weeks of 60-80 hours are common and vacations are considered to be unnecessary luxuries. Although many physicians seem to do well in these conditions, their families may be adversely affected.

The need to ensure patient safety, as well as to promote a healthy lifestyle for physicians, is being addressed in some countries by restrictions on the number of hours and the length of shifts that

physicians and trainees may work.

Some medical educational institutions now make it easier for female physicians to interrupt their training programs for family reasons.

Health Care providers duties towards their profession

To keep good reputation of the profession, healthcare providers have to pay attention to the following issues:

1. To pay attention to his personal conduct , personal appearance and by sincere devotion and dedication to the medical profession.

2. To avoid any word or action that could lead to the contempt of the medical profession or to undermining of the important role of the medical worker.

3 .To contribute in the scientific and practical development of the profession through research and study works , essays ,and through continuous learning.

4 .The medical worker should not take advantage of his profession position for obtaining any material or moral gains which are not in conformity with or violate the laws and tradition.

5 .To follow the appropriate standards of personal behaviour in the course of performing professional or any other activities. This can be obtained by abstinence from dishonest conduct ,violent behaviours ,alcohol or drug abuse

6 .To maintain and upgrade the standards of medical profession in all his professional activities.

7 .To take the appropriate procedure when he comes to know that one of the health team is sick ,or ignorant or negligent of his duties ; in furtherance of the patient protection first and the medical profession second.

8 .Medical workers should not loose the

patient trust by using cheating or deceptive methods or by establishing abnormal relations with the patient or one of his family members.

9 .To avoid taking hurried decisions to perform medical procedures characterized by great risks if he is not sure of its necessity , and that its benefits exceed the risk.

10 .To avoid seeking fame at the expense of the profession ethics and principles.

Glossary

peers

Maintain

Personal Conduct

Devotion

Dedication

Moral gains

Abstinence

Dishonest conduct

Ignorant

negligent

نظراؤكعلى يحافظشخصي سلوكعطاءاهداء

اخالقيه مكاسباالسراف عدم او االمتناع

السلوك في النزاهه عدمجاهل

يتجاهل

Glossary

Cheating

Deceiving

Abnormal

Hurried decisions

exceed

Seek the fame

At the expense of

غشخداعطبيعي غير

سريعه قراراتيفوق او يتعدى

الشهره عن يبحثحساب على