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The codes of Ethics framed by
Alternative Medical Council Calcutta are as follows.
A. Duties of Practitioners In
General:
A practitioner must always
maintain the highest standards of professional conduct towards both the
individual and society.
A practitioner must not allow
himself to be influenced merely by motives or profit.
The following practices are
deemed unethical:
(a) Self-advertisement except what is expressly authorized by the code of
ethics.
(b) Taking part in any plan of medical care in which the practitioner does not
have professional independence.
(c) Receiving any funds in connection with services rendered to a patient other
than the acceptance of a proper professional fee or to any money in the same
circumstances without the knowledge of the patient such as commissions,
kickbacks and gifts.
Under no circumstances is a
practitioner permitted to do anything that would weaken the physical or mental
resistance of a human being except for strictly therapeutic or prophylactic
indications imposed in the interest of the patient.
A practitioner is advised to
use great caution in publishing discoveries. The same applies to methods of
treatment whose value is not yet recognised by the profession at large.
When a practitioner is called
upon to give evidence in court on a legal matter or issue a certificate, he
should only state that which he can verify. No hearsay should by included.
B. Duties of the Practitioner
to the patient:
A practitioner must always
bear in mind the importance of preserving all life from the time of conception
until death.
A practitioner owes to his
patient complete loyalty and all the resources of his therapy. Whenever an
examination or treatment is beyond his capacity he should summon another
practitioner, who has the necessary ability, immediately.
A practitioner owes to his
patient absolute secrecy on all events which have been confided to him or which
he knows because of the confidence entrusted to him.
A practitioner must give the
necessary treatment in an emergency unless he is assured that it can and will be
given by another in due time.
Every patient has the right
to expect a complete and thorough examination of his disorder and those accurate
records will be kept.
A practitioner should
unceasingly, in the interests of his patients improve his knowledge and skill
continuously.
C. Duties of Practitioners to
Each Other:
A practitioner ought to
behave towards his colleagues to create mutual trust.
A practitioner must not
entice patients from his colleagues.
A practitioner must observe
all the principles and guidelines laid down by Alternative Medical Council
Calcutta.
D. The Practitioner and
Commercial Undertakings:
A general ethical principle
is that a practitioner should not associate himself with commerce in such a way
as to let it influence, or appear to influence, his attitude towards the
treatment of his patients.
Testimonials or laudatory
certificates, whether for publication or not, of any appliance or apparatus or
dressing or any medicinal preparation or any cosmetic or food should not be
given by a practitioner.
Practitioners should not
sanction the quotation of an extract from any publication or report for the
purpose of the trade except with the authority of Alternative Medical Council
Calcutta.
E. Advertisement:
A practitioner should not
attempt in any way to advertise himself except by the legitimate means of
proficiency in his work and by skill and success in his practice.
It is unethical for a
practitioner to insert any advertisement in the public press or issue any card
or circular relating to his profession or the clinical practice except in the
following circumstances:
(a) on commencing practice.
(b) On changing his or her address.
(c) On temporary absence from the practice.
(d) On resumption of the practice.
(e) On disposal of the practice.
(f) On succeeding to another practice.
(g) On entering or retiring from a partnership.
(h) On discontinuance of a colleague in a group practice.
A medical journal
advertisement must he simple and direct as possible. Every advertisement shall
be 'run on', without spacing and without display. The type shall he that
ordinarily used for articles. No more space shall he given to the advertisement
than that required printing. Hours of consultation, address and telephone number
may be inserted.
Letters of abbreviations
indicating all other qualifications may be added. A statement of specialty may
be included only if that specialty constitutes the practice of the healer for
not less than five years.
It is unethical for any
practitioner to permit his name to he used in any material relating to diseases
or their treatment which is published in the public press or broadcast by radio
or television. Approval may be given by Alternative Medical Council Calcutta on
application to waive this rule when departure from anonymity is in the public or
professional interests.
No interview with a media
reporter on subjects relating to diseases and their treatment should be given by
a practitioner except:
(a) That the name or the practitioner interviewed should not be published, nor
his identity revealed in any report published of the interview, except with the
approval of Alternative Medical Council Calcutta.
(b) That, if possible, a copy of the report proposed to be published be
submitted for prior approval.
(c) That the practitioner interviewed should not imply that he has superior
ability over other practitioners.
Public Lectures or addresses
to lay audiences may be given on professional subjects in order to promote
Alternative Medicines.
No practitioner except with
the approval in writing of Alternative Medical Council Calcutta shall have his
nameplate affixed elsewhere other than:
(a) at his residence.
(b) at premises where he attends regularly for the purposes of treating his
patients.
Nameplates shall he
unostentatious in size and lettering and form, and may bear the name,
qualification and practice hours. A statement of specialty may appear only if
that specialty constitute the sole practice of the practitioner.
Practitioners may display the
titles after conferment, in addition to their clinical qualifications.
F. Cancellation of
Registration:
The practitioner's name may
be removed from the Medical Register maintained by the Council by reasons of
conviction of an indictable offence or infamous conduct in a professional
respect.
Alternative Medical Council
Calcutta shall have power to withdraw registration of any practitioner on the
ground that his conduct is deemed by the Council to be detrimental to the honor
and or is calculated to bring the profession or the Council into disrepute, or
on the grounds that the practitioner has willfully and persistently refused to
comply with the Rules of the Council or the Articles or the By-laws of the
Council.
An expelled practitioner
shall, be liable to pay all sums due from him to the Council at the time of his
expulsion.
No canvassing for membership
of any professional Society is allowed. This rule must he strictly followed at
congresses and symposia.
G. Procedures in Ethical
Matters:
An ethics subcommittee may be
appointed to investigate any questions of ethics which are brought to notice by
the Chairman.
H. Teaching Courses,
Symposia, Congress:
Affiliated societies may make
applications for recognition of their teaching curricula, symposia and
congresses organized by them. The logo of the Council may only be used after
obtaining written approval.
I. Legal Advise:
The Council may arrange for
free legal advise for all its practitioners who desire or require such advise.
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