The Ministry of Health has developed a code of medical ethics

The Ministry of Health of the Russian Federation has developed a draft code of professional ethics for healthcare workers, writes RIA Novosti with reference to the director of the Department of Public Health and Communications of the Ministry of Health Oleg Salagai.

The Code regulates the principles of behavior of health workers and medical students when providing assistance. The main principle proclaims the duty of physicians to respect and humanely treat the person and dignity of the patient, as well as his relatives.

The document states that doctors are obliged to avoid situations in which they may have a personal interest in material gain, and should not, through their actions, undermine the authority of the medical profession. The Code emphasizes that all healthcare workers should lead healthy lifestyles and thereby set an example for patients, both in person and online.

Oleg Salagai emphasized that the document is advisory in nature. The text of the draft order is not yet available on the Ministry of Health website.

This is not the first attempt to introduce a common code of professional ethics for all medical organizations. Deputy Prime Minister Olga Golodets demanded the development of a code of conduct for health workers back in February 2015; later it was reported that the first version of the document was being developed. The basis for the creation of the code was a large number of scandalous stories involving doctors: selfies in front of a bloody patient, beating of an immobilized patient in intensive care, photographs of patients with offensive comments.

Currently, only medical codes developed on a voluntary basis are in force. Thus, in 2012, the National Medical Chamber proposed a Code of Professional Ethics for Doctors of the Russian Federation.

In November last year, the Ministry of Health of the Trans-Baikal Territory prepared a draft “Code of Professional Ethics and Official Conduct of Medical Workers.” The document not only ordered medical workers to conscientiously perform their official duties, but also prohibited criticizing the activities of the medical institution, the policies of their superiors and the actions of the authorities.