Patients must be able to trust doctors with their lives and well-being. To justify that trust, the profession has a duty to maintain a good standard of practice and care and to show respect for human life.
In particular doctors must
make the care of patients their first concern
treat every patient politely and considerately
respect patients' dignity and privacy
listen to patients and respect their views
give patients information in a way they can understand
respect the right of patients to be fully involved in decisions about their care
keep their professional skills and knowledge up to date
recognise the limits of their professional competence
be honest and trustworthy
respect and protect confidential information
make sure that their personal beliefs do not prejudice their patients' care
act quickly to protect patients from risk if they have good reason to believe that they or a colleague may not be fit to practice
avoid abusing their position as a doctor, and
work with colleagues in the ways that best serve patients' interests
In all these matters doctors must never discriminate unfairly against their patients or colleagues. And they must always be prepared to justify the actions to them.
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