UNITED NATIONS NATIONS UNIES
W O R L D H E Л. L T H O R G A N I Z A T I O N
ORGANISATION MONDIALE DE LA SANTÉ
EXECUTIVE BOARD EB5/29 Z
28 November 1949 Fifth Session
ESTABLISmiENT OF AN INTERNATIONAL CODE OF DEONTOLOGY
The Director-General has the honour to inform the Executive Board that the resolution of the Board on the above subject"1" was communicated to the World Medical Association and to the
International Council of Nurses.
The International Council of Nurses replied that although the Ethics of Nursing Committee was appointed in 1929 the work it has accomplished has been slight, due partly to the death of its Chairman, .Mile. Chaptal, in 1933, and also.to the death of Miss ffiLllyers who was the Chairman from 1947-48. It is confidently expected, however, that during the next two years the following
•work will be accomplished： .
(1) The Ethics of Nursing Committee will endeavour to set up an international code of ethics relative to nursing, and (2) The Bibliography of Nursing Ethics will be revised and
brought up to date.'
The reply from the World Medical Association is given below.
It will be noticed that an International Code of MedieáL Ethics was adopted at the Third General Assembly of the World Medical Association in London in October 1949. The World Health Organization was ‘ represented.
The World Medical Association^ in forwarding the text of the Code, expressed the hope that the Executive Board of the World Health Organization will give approval of the Code, and help to publicize it throughout the world.
"I am enclosing herewith in three languages the International Code of Medical Ethics which was adopted at the Third General Assembly of the World. Medical Association in London in October 1949,
This Code has been submitted to the national medical associations of the world. Up to the present, ten such associations have signified their approval of this Code.
1EB4/44 Rev.2, page 18
EB5/29 page 2
It is the feeling of the World Medical Association that since it is an Association of national medical associations and, therefore, can speak for them and through them for the practising.physicians of the world, *fchat it is the only organization'which can draft such a Code and have it accepted by the profession.
I have sent a copy of this Code to the International Council of Nurses iri compliance with their request." •
If the Executive. Board has no comments to make on this report it may wish to adopt a resolution on the following lines :
• » : .
The Executive Board
NOTES with satisfaction that a Code of Medical Ethics has been adopted by the World Medical Association；
REQUESTS the Director-General
(i) To communicate to the World Medical Association the deep appreciation of the World Health
Organization for their work on this subject;
(ii) To bring the Code to the notice of the League of Red Cross Societies and the Académie Nationale de Médecine de France} and
(iii) To circulate the Code to all Member States
EB5/29 page 3
ANNEX
. . ‘ “ . • .. , . ‘ * • Т Ш Ж М Ю MEDICAL ASSOCIATION ‘
2 East 103rd Street, New York 29, New York
INTSRHATIOML CODE OF MEDICAL ETHICS . Duties of Doctors in General
A doctor must always maintain the highest standards of professional, côftduct.
‘A doctor must not allow himself to be influenced merely by motives of profit.
. .. »
The following practices are deemed unethical： 」 ， 、
• .. ."«
(a) Дпу self-advertisement except such-as is expressly authorized by the national code of medical ethics..
(b) .Taking part in any plan of medical care in wjiioh the doctor does not have professional independence-
(c) To receive any money in connexion with services rendered to a patient other than the acceptance of a proper
professional fee, or to pay any money in the same cireum- stanees without the knowledge of the patiènt.
Under no circumstances is a doctor permitted to do anything that would weaken the physical or mental resistance of a human being, except frcp ,
trictly therapeutic or prophylactic indications imposed in the interest of
the patient» ；
A doctor is advised to use great caution in publishing discoveries.
The samo applies to methods of treatment whose value is not recognized by the profccGic::.,
When a doctor is called upon to give evidence or a certificate he should only state that which he can verify!
Duties of Doctors to the Sick
Á doctor must always bear in mind the importance of preserving huinan life fron the time of conception until death» •
• -: * • A doctor owes to his patient complete loyalty and all the resources of his science• Whenever an examination or treatment is beyond his capacity
i should summon another doctor who has the necessary ability,
A doctor owes to his patient absolute secrecy on all which has been confided to him or which he knows because of the confidence entrusted to him
EB5/29 . : page 4
A doctor must give the necessary treatment in emergency, unless he is assured that it can and will be given by others.
Duties of Doctors to each Other
л doctor ought to behave to his colleagues as he would have them bt-have to him.
A doctor must not entice patients from his colleagues.
Д doctor must observe the principles of "The Declaration of Geneva"
approved by The ïïorld Medical Association.
DECLARATION OF GENEVA
Adopted by the General Assembly of The World Medical . Association at Geneva, Switzerland, September 1948 .
At the time of- being admitted as Member of the Medical Professione
I solemnly pledge n^self to consecrate щу life to the
service of humanity. ' 工 will rive to nçr teachers the respect and gratitude which ,
is their due;
I will practice ray profession with conscience and dignity;
The health of my patient will be my first considerations . I will respect the stcrots which are confided in me;
工 will maintain by all the means in my power, the honour and the noble traditions of the medical profession^ ‘‘
. Ш colleagues will be brothers；
I Will not permit considerations of religion, nationality, r^rty politics or social standing to intervene ‘“
between щу duty and my patient;
I will maintain the utmost respect for human life, from the time of conception; even under threat^ I will not use щу medical knowledge contrary to the laws of humanity.
I make these promises solemnly, freely and* upon щ honour.
The above International Code of Medical Ethics was adopted by the hird General Assembly of The Torld Medical Association at London, ngland, 12 October 1949.
UNITED NATIONS NATIONS UNIES
connection with the letter from Dr. W.P. Forrest, I am, therefore, informing you of this official dated July-
Code.
It is the feeling of the World Medical Association that since it is an Association of national medical associations and,
therefore, can speak for them and through them for the practising physicians of the world, that it is the only organization which can draft such a
Code and have it accepted by the profession,
I hope, therefore, that your Executive Board will give approval to this Code and help to publicize it throughout the world.
I have sent a copy of this Code to the International Council of Nurses in compliance with their request.
Sincerely yours
(signed) Louis Bauer, M.D.,, Secretary General"
W O R L D H E A L T H ORGANISATION MONDIALE O R G A N I Z A T I O N DE LA SANTÉ
EXECUTIVE BOARD EB5/29 Add.l t /
一 ％ J a n u a r y 1950
Fifth Session
ORIGINAL î ENGLISH
ESTABLISHMENT OF AN INTERNATIONAL CODE OF DEONTOLOGY"
The Director-General has the honour to transmit to the Members of the Board the text of a letter received by him from the World Medical Association dated 9 November 1949：
"Dear Dr, Chisholms
I am enclosing herewith in three languages the International Code of Medical Ethics which was adopted at the Third General Assembly of the World Medical Association in London, in October, 1949.
This Code has been submitted to the national medical associations of the world. Up to the present, ten such associations have signified their approval of this Code,
19 27
