Code of Ethics / Code of

Conduct for Paramedics

 MEDICAL PROFESSIONALISM

 Belief system in which group members

profess(declare) to each other and public
the competency standards and ethical
values.
 What the public and patients should
expect from medical professional.
ELEMENTS OF PROFESSIONALISM

•Altruism: Best interest of patients not self interest.

•Accountability: to patients, society and profession.
•Excellence: Commitmentto life long learning
•Duty: commitment to service
•Honor & integrity: highest standards of behavior,
honesty (confidentiality).
•Respect for others: essence of humanism.Trust
relationship
•Other commitments- Just distribution of finite
LACK OF MEDICAL PROFESSIONALISM

1. Abuse of Power- Breach of Confidentiality/sexual harassment/abusing

colleagues, patient’s relations.
2.Arrogance: offensive display of superiority, self importance.
3.Greed.
4.Misrepresentation- lie, fraud
5.Impariment: disability impairing doctor’s ability to discharge his duty.
6.Lack of conscientiousness: failure to fulfill responsibility.
7.Conflict of interest: Advertising/unethical
collaboration/gifts/inappropriate treatment.
 Sir William Osler1903

• The Practice of Medicine is not a business…..our professionals

cannot be dealt as men dealing in corn and coal; the human
heart by which we live must control our professional
relations……….

• Med. Profession needs to go beyond doctor – patient

relationship. Duty alone is not enough. Higher values of
Medicine – Altruism, Beneficence and Compassion (ABC)
need more attention.
 Why Ethics?
• Code of Ethics is to establish and promote rules of
honesty ; integrity and character ( 1847).
• Medical Ethics is a system of moral principles that add
value to the practice of clinical medicine and in scientific
research. These values
Respect for autonomy

Non-malificence Beneficence (Best interest of Pt)

Justice
( fairness, equality)
5.Respect for patients
6.Truthful, Honesty (Consent) Implied, Expressed

_
 CODE OF CONDUCT
MCI Regulation 2002 amended in Oct 2016
(Professional Conduct, Etiquettes, Ethics)
 1. Duties and Responsibilities of Physicians/ medical
professionals

Character- shall uphold the dignity and honour of his

profession. The prime object of the medical profession is to
render service to humanity. Should be modest, sober, patient,
prompt in discharging his duty without anxiety.

GMP- Good medical practice. should practice methods of

healing founded on scientific basis and should not associate
professionally with anyone who violates this principle
 1. Duties and Responsibilities of Physicians/ medical
professionals

Records- shall maintain the medical records pertaining to his / her indoor
patients for a period of 3 years from the date of commencement of the
treatment in a standard proforma laid down by the Medical Council of India
and attached as.

If any request is made for medical records either by the patients / authorised
attendant or legal authorities involved, the same may be duly acknowledged
and documents shall be issued within the period of 72 hours.
 1. Duties and Responsibilities of Physicians/ medical
professionals

Quality-

Shall not employ in connection with his professional practice any

attendant who is neither registered nor enlisted under the
Medical Acts in force and shall not permit such persons to attend,
treat or perform operations upon patients wherever professional
discretion or skill is required.
 2. DUTIES OF PHYSICIANS TO THEIR
PATIENTS
Obligations to the Sick
Patience, Delicacy and Secrecy- Confidences concerning
individual or domestic life entrusted by patients to a physician
and defects in the disposition or character of patients observed
during medical attendance should never be revealed unless their
revelation is required by the laws of the State.
 2. DUTIES OF PHYSICIANS TO THEIR
PATIENTS
Prognosis- should ensure himself that the patient, his relatives or his
responsible friends have such knowledge of the patient’s condition as
will serve the best interests of the patient and the family.
The Patient must not be neglected: A physician is free to choose whom
he will serve. However, should respond to any request for his assistance
in an emergency. Once having undertaken a case, the physician should
not neglect the patient, nor should he withdraw from the case without
giving adequate notice to the patient and his family.
 3. Duties in consultation
Unnecessary consultations should be avoided: consultation
should be justifiable and in the interest of the patient only
and not for any other consideration.

Punctuality in Consultation

Consultation for Patient’s Benefit

4. Responsibility of doctor / medical professional to
each other
Due respect should be observed towards the physician in-charge of the case
and no statement or remark be made, which would impair the confidence
reposed in him.

Whenever a medical professional requests another colleague to attend his/her

patients during his/her temporary absence, should give the utmost
consideration to the interests and reputation of the absent physician and all
such patients should be restored to the care of the latter upon his/her return.
5. Duties of medical professional to public –
should enlighten the public concerning quarantine regulations
and measures for the prevention of epidemic and communicable
diseases
When an epidemic occurs a medical person should not abandon
his duty for fear of contracting the disease himself/herself
6. Unethical acts
Rebates and commission

Secret remedies

Euthanasia

Human Rights
7. Professional Misconduct
i. Advertising
ii. Addiction
iii. Adultery
iv. Association
v. Alcohol
vi. Abortion
vii. Sex determination
8. Punishment and Disciplinary action
Under Para-medical council of India
Penal erasure
 MotherTeresa

“Medicine is a mission”
It is not a profession
and
it is not abusiness”