The document outlines the principles of medical ethics, emphasizing the duty of medical professionals to act ethically by ensuring patient trust and protection from harm. It highlights four fundamental ethical principles: autonomy, beneficence, non-maleficence, and justice, which guide medical practice and decision-making. Additionally, it underscores the responsibility of medical professionals to uphold high standards of care while complying with relevant laws and regulations.

1. PRINCIPLES OF ETHICS
The principles of doing “good” and not doing “harm” are the essence of every code of medical ethics. It is the
duty of all medical professionals to their patients to exercise their professional skills in an ethical manner and to
observe the laws of the community. The essential purpose is to ensure that the patients’ trust in the medical
profession is deserved. This is achieved by the protecting the patients and ensuring that they are able to obtain
the maximum benefits available from the medicine. At the same time the medical ethics aim to protect patients
from the abuse that can occur when one person is in the position of power via-a-vis another.
Medical ethics are generally considered to be derived from the teachings of the Greek physician Hippocrates,
commonly known as the father of western medicine. The ethical principles he taught survive today in the form
of Oath (The Hippocratic Oath) traditionally taken by those entering medical practice. The essential principle
remains the same: the patient’s interests are paramount. Code of ethics have been enriched by the influence of
religion and culture.
The Four principles have been generally agreed as fundamental. These are
➢ Autonomy: The right of patients to make decision on their own behalf.
➢ Beneficence: The duty of obligation to act in the best interests of the patient.
➢ Non-Maleficence: The duty of obligation to avoid harm to patient.
➢ Justice: this embodies concepts of fairness and giving what is rightfully due it applies not only to the individual
but also in the wider medical context and it incorporates nation of equality and fair distribution.
The ethical standards of those working in the medical laboratories and forensic medical institutions are derived
from medical ethics and other codes and incorporate the same principles.
General Applications of ethical principles: Medical Laboratories have responsibilities to others, there are three
main groups to whom responsibility is owed:
➢ Patients
➢ Colleagues and the profession
➢ Society.
Medical professionals should comply with relevant laws and regulations pertaining to their professional
activities. The medical profession is committed to a high standard of care and practice and professionals should
endeavour to influence those that do not meet these standards.