CODE OF MEDICAL ETHICS

DR. PRIYANKA DEVGUN

ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR,
DEPARTMENT OF COMMUNITY MEDICINE.

INDIAN MEDICAL COUNCIL(PROFESSIONAL

CONDUCT,ETIQUETTE AND ETHICS) REGULATIONS
2002
AMENDMENT IN 2003
NOTIFICATION ON 26.05.2004

PROFESSIONAL CONDUCT

A charter of conventional principles and

expectations that are considered binding to any
personnel who is a member of the medical
fraternity.

MEDICAL ETHICS

The branch of ethics that examines the questions

of moral right and wrong in the context of
practice of medicine.
Highly individualistic. Compassionate and
humane decisions have to be taken taking into
consideration each situations merit while
honoring laws of the land.

MEDICAL ETIQUETTE

Befitting
bedside manner- attentive
language- comprehensible in soft tone
Grooming- tasteful in keeping with local customs
Demeanor - courteous and empathic
Dealing with the colleagues.

It is a good thing for a physician to have

prematurely gray hair and itchy piles. The
first makes him appear to know more than
he does and the second gives him an
expression of concern that the patient
mistakenly interprets as being on his behalf.
-Dr. A. Benson Cannon

NEED FOR ADHERENCE TO CODE OF MEDICAL

ETHICS

Modern day practice in medicine has become

defensive and full of uncertainties.
Mutual faith has been replaced by mutual
suspicion.

PIP (PRIORITIES IN PRACTICE)

T- training and research

I ingrained serving attitude
P- practice for fees.
S- salacious endorsements.

T
I
P
S

S
P
I
T

DECLARATION
1.
2.
3.
4.

5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
11.

I solemnly pledge to consecrate my life to the service of humanity.

even under threat, I shallnot 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 the considerations of religion, nationality, race, party,
politics or social standing to intervene between my duty and my
patient.
I will practise with conscience and dignity.
The health of my patient will be my first consideration.
I will respect the secrets confided in me.
I will give my teachers the respect and gratitude which is their due.
I will maintain, by all means in my power, the honour and noble
traditions of medical profession.
I will treat my colleagues with respect and dignity.
I shall abide by the code of medical ethics as enunciated in the Indian
Medical Council (professional conduct, etiquette and ethics) regulations.

(1)DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE

PHYSICIAN IN GENERAL
CHARACTER OF THE PHYSICIAN

Upright bearing
Instructed in the art of healing
Diligent in caring for the sick.
Modest, sober and patient.
Prompt in discharging his duties without anxiety.
Conduct himself with propriety.

MAINTAINING GOOD MEDICAL PRACTICE

The manner of practice should be such that the
dignity of both those serving and those being
served is maintained.
Evidence based medicine should be the basis of
practice.
Pursuit for excellence in the chosen field should
be a priority of every physician.
The physician should always strive to be worthy
of the faith reposed in him.

MEMBERSHIP OF MEDICAL SOCIETY

Every physician should affiliate himself with

associations and societies of allopathic medicine
and involve himself actively in their activities.
Participate in CMEs for at least 30 hours in 5
years or as guided by the state medical council.

MAINTAINANCE OF MEDICAL RECORDS

Ensure good quality recordkeeping while
maintaining confidentiality.
Should be made available on competent request
within 72 hours while also documenting the
request.
Duration of record keeping
Outdoor registers
2 years
Indoor records
3 years
Medico legal records 30 years.

REASONS FOR POOR RECORDKEEPING

Considered costly and time consuming
Restaurant type medical services
Doctor shopping patient

GOOD RECRDKEEPING IS REFLECTIVE OF

QUALITY CARE AND AVOIDS PURPOSELESS
LITIGATION

 Maintain a separate register for certificates issued

with full details and the identification of those to
whom the certificates are issued.
Language used in the records should be crisp and
unambiguous.

A FEW ACTUAL GEMS OF RECORD KEEPING.

Discharge status- alive but without my
permission (LAMA)
The pupils are non reacting and fixed. Probable
diagnosis is death.
The patient has been depressed since she began
seeing me in 1993.
The surgery was an unqualified success.
However, the patient did not regain
consciousness.
The patient refused autopsy.

DISPLAY OF THE REGISTRATION NUMBER.

Should be on broad display on all prescription
slips, certificates issued, money receipts apart
from in his consultation chambers.
Only those degrees, diplomas, memberships,
honors should be suffixed which confer
professional knowledge or exemplary
achievements.

USE OF GENERIC NAMES OF DRUGS.

The prescription should be rationale and with

generic names of the drugs.

HIGHEST QUALITY ASSURANCE IN PATIENT CARE

Should not employ or seek employment under

personnel unauthorized to practice allopathic
medicine.
Should bring to light incompetent, corrupt,
dishonest, unethical conduct on the part of
members of the profession.

PAYMENT OF PROFESSIONAL SERVICE RENDERED

Fees should be made known before offering

consultation and before operating.
Physicians rendering service on behalf of the
state shall refrain from anticipating or accepting
any consideration.
No cure no payment contract is unethical on
doctors part and illegal on patients part.

EVASION OF LEGAL RESTRICTIONS

Cooperate in observance and enforcement of

various sanitary laws and regulations.

(2) DUTIES OF PHYSICIANS TO THEIR PATIENTS.

Rights of the patients

Right
Right
Right
Right
Right

to
to
to
to
to

safety
be informed
choose
be heard
seek redressal

 Privileged information should be kept

confidential.
Utmost patience, delicacy and secrecy should be
observed in consultation and examination of the
patient.
Having once undertaken a patient, the physician
should not arbitrarily withdraw without giving
notice and stating reason for the same.

(3) DUTIES OF THE PHYSICIAN IN CONSULTATION.

Unnecessary consultations should be avoided.
Likewise, the investigative tests, procedures and
imaging should also not be a part of fishing
expedition for diagnosis.
However, patient should be referred to a
specialist or a second opinion should be sought if
doing so benefits the patient.

 Result of the consultation should be discussed

with the patient or his relatives humanely and
candidly.

(4) DUTIES OF THE PHYSICIANS TO EACH OTHER.

The physician should consider it a pleasure and
privilege to serve his colleague or his immediate
family.
If called for consultation by a colleague, there
should be no room for rivalry, jealousy or envy.
(at least, it should not be publically aired.)
The called specialist should not solicit the same
case and should confine himself to doing what he
was called for.
Any change in the treatment modality should be
made with the consent of the original physician.

 Temporary leave of absence should be taken only

after arranging for a suitable substitute for the
patients. Likewise, professional courtesy
demands that no such request to substitute be
turned down.
Fee splitting or charging extra for such a service
is deplorable.

There are 3 kinds of physicians

One, who make wonders happen
Second, who see wonders happen
And
Third, who keep wondering what the hell
happened!

LETS STRIVE FOR THE FIRST, ENSURE THAT WE

ARE IN THE SECOND AND AVOID THE THIRD!

THANK YOU