This document provides an overview of medical ethics. It discusses the principles of medical ethics including non-maleficence, beneficence, autonomy, and social responsibility. Important ethical codes for the medical profession are outlined such as the Hippocratic Oath, Declaration of Geneva, and the Indian Medical Council Regulations. Breaches of medical ethics include professional misconduct and malpractice. Medical ethics is an important topic to ensure high ethical standards in healthcare.

1. OVERVIEW OF MEDICAL ETHICS
BY CHITRASEN

2. INTRODUCTION
The relation between doctor and patient is considered
fiduciary in nature and based on mutual trust which forms the
foundation of medical ethics.
However the honors and ideals of medical profession imply
responsibilities of physician extends beyond the individual to
society.
Public at large expects doctors to not only have high
standard of medical ability and skill but also high ethical behaviors.

3. ETHICS DEFINED
The word ethics is derived from the Greek word
ethos, which means "character,“.
The most important element in ethical behavior is
knowledge that actions are accomplished for the betterment
of the common good of individual and society.
To put it formally ethics is the branch of philosophy
that defines what is good for the individual and for society
and establishes the nature of obligations, or duties, that
people owe themselves and one another.

4. Professional Ethics
Professional Ethics are the civil code of behaviors
considered correct by member of the profession for the good of
both the stakeholders and the profession.

5. Medical Ethics
Medical ethics refers to the system of values common to
medical profession and application of these values to practice of
medicine. It is the standard of behavior by which physician evaluate
their relationship with their patients , colleagues and society.

6. PRINCIPLES OF MEDICAL ETHICS

7. Non maleficence

8. Beneficence

9. Balancing Beneficence and Non-
maleficence

10. Autonomy

11. Social Responsibility and Justice

12. Confidentiality

13. Veracity

14. ETHICAL CODES
Important ethical codes in medicine:
Hippocratic Oath
Declaration of Geneva
International Code of Medical Ethics
Indian Medical Council (Professional Conduct,
Etiquettes and Ethics) Regulations, 2002

15. Hippocratic Oath
Hippocratic Oath is one of the earliest document in medical
ethics. Traditionally all doctors recite this oath at swearing in. It is
considered sacred for its religious foundation and sanctity.
However with the evolution of medical science and social
values over the ages the underlying sentiments of Hippocratic
ideals have become redundant. The rigid set of ethics disregards
circumstantial variations and can not be followed in to days health
care systems.

16. Declaration of Geneva
The World Medical Association adopted the declaration in
its General Assembly at Geneva in 1948. It is a declaration of
physicians’ dedication to the humanitarian goals of medicine. The
declaration was important in view of the medical crimes committed
in the Nazi Germany during WW-II. It have been amended several
times since then.
The declaration of Geneva was intended to update the
Oath of Hippocrates which was no longer suitable suited to modern
conditions.

17. International Code of Medical Ethics
The World Medical Association adopted an International
Code of Medical ethics based on the modern restatement of
Hippocratic Oath “The Geneva Declaration”.
The code applies both in peace and war.
It codifies the duties of physician in general, duties to
patients and colleagues.

18. Indian Medical Council (Professional
Conduct, Etiquettes and Ethics)
Regulations, 2002
The Medical Council of India notified the “Indian Medical
Council (Professional Conduct, Etiquettes and Ethics)
Regulations, 2002” on 11 March 2002 to bring ethical
standardization in to hospitals, nursing homes and clinics.
The Regulations are comprehensive with penal provisions
for misconducts by delinquent medical practitioners. Not
withstanding some redundancies and internal inconsistencies the
regulations have not delivered results so far due to poor
implementation.

19. BREACH OF PROFESSIONAL ETHICS
Breach of ethics are:
Misconduct
Malpractice

20. Professional Misconduct
Professional misconduct is behavior by a professional
that implies an intentional compromise of ethical standards.

21. Malpractice
Malpractice is the breach by a member of a profession of
either a standard of care or a standard of conduct. It refers to
negligence or misconduct by a professional person, such as a
lawyer, a doctor, a dentist, or an accountant.
The failure to meet a standard of care or standard of
conduct that is recognized by a profession reaches the level of
malpractice when a client or patient is injured or damaged because
of error.

22. CONCLUSION
Medical Ethics is a currently debated topic.
Lack of moral standards in health care set up is widely
proclaimed. Society is no more tolerant to erring doctors.
Regulatory bodies are striving to institute acceptable
standard of ethical behaviors by doctors, nurses and paramedical
personnel.