ETHICS OF THE MEDICAL PROFESSION [ S.L.94.15 1
SUBSIDIARY LEGISLATION 94.15
ETHICS OF THE MEDICAL PROFESSION 
REGULATIONS
14th September, 1971
The NOTICE dated 14th September, 1971.
Title.
Profession Regulations.
Medical 
profession.
2. ( a ) The medical profession occupies a position of trust in
society because of the understanding that a doctor’s
calling is to serve humanity under all conditions and
because in the past members of the profession have
built up a tradition of placing the needs of the patient
above all else.
( b ) On admission to the brotherhood of medicine, every
new member not only succeeds to the benefit of its
special place in society, but also takes upon himself the
duty of maintaining this high position. The
justification for the freedom of medicine lies in the
hands of those who practice it.
Faith or morals.
member of the profession shall abide by the tenets of the Roman
Catholic Church.
Disciplinary 
jurisdiction.
4. The attention of members of the medical profession is
drawn to the General Notice issued by the Medical Council for the
guidance of members of the professions upon which it exercises
disciplinary jurisdiction.
Code of conduct.
in elaboration of them, there are customs and ethical rules which
are observed by the profession as a code of conduct. The endless
number of situations that might, and do, arise in the course of
professional life cannot all be covered specifically in any set of
rules.
The following rulings are accepted as covering the major
and the more common features of professional life and will serve to
illustrate the principles of behaviour. These principles can be, and
should be, applied to other problems and situations that may arise.
Standards.
standard.
Influence by 
motives of profit.
7. A doctor in the pursuit of his profession must not allow
himself to be influenced by motives of profit.
Advertisement.
advertisement relative to his professional status or work.
Professional 
independence.
9. A doctor shall not accept conditions of service which do
2 [ S.L.94.15 ETHICS OF THE MEDICAL PROFESSION
not ensure his professional independence.
Treatment of 
disease.
10. A doctor shall not in any circumstances do, authorise to be
done or condone, anything that would weaken the physical or
mental resistance of a human being, except for the prevention and
treatment of disease.
Preserving human 
life.
11. A doctor must always bear in mind the importance of
preserving human life from the time of conception until death.
Practitioner not to 
hesitate to propose 
or accept 
consultation.
12. ( a ) A doctor should not hesitate to propose or to accept
consultation with a professional colleague when for
any reason it appears desirable in the interests of the
patient. The attendance of a consulting practitioner
shall cease when the consultation is concluded, unless
another appointment is arranged by the medical
attendant.
( b ) When a consultant in his rooms sees a patient at the
request of his medical attendant, it is his duty to write
to the latter stating his opinion on the case and the
mode of treatment he thinks should be adopted.
( c ) When there is an irreconcilable difference of opinion
between practitioners, the circumstances of the fact
should be frankly and impartially explained to the
patient or his relatives by either the consultant or the
medical attendant in the presence of the other.
( d ) When it becomes the duty of a practitioner occupying
an official position to see and report upon a case of
illness or injury he should communicate with the
patient informing him that it is his right to ask his
practitioner to be present during the examination. The
practitioner seeing the case officially shall
scrupulously avoid interference with, or remarks upon,
the treatment or diagnosis that has been adopted.
Practitioner must 
not disclose 
information.
Cap. 9.
13. (1) A medical practitioner must not disclose voluntarily
without the consent of the patient, preferably written, information,
including certification which he has obtained in the course of his
professional relationship with the patient. Exception to this rule is
made only by the requirements of the law. Medical practitioners are
reminded of article 257 of the Criminal Code.
(2) Any conviction under this regulation may also involve
disciplinary action on the part of the Medical Council.
Patient already 
under the care of 
another 
practitioner.
14. ( a ) When the medical practitioner is requested to attend a
patient already under the care of another practitioner,
he shall decline to do so, except in consultation with
the practitioner in attendance, or in cases where the
consultation be not agreed to, until the practitioner in
attendance has been informed, in writing, if possible,
that his services are no longer desired. In an emergency
this rule does not apply.
( b ) A medical practitioner called upon in an emergency to
visit a patient, who under ordinary circumstances
ETHICS OF THE MEDICAL PROFESSION [ S.L.94.15 3
would have been attended by another practitioner,
shall, when the emergency ends, retire in favour of the
ordinary medical attendant, but shall be entitled to
charge the patient for his services.
( c ) When a practitioner is consulted in his own office, it is
not necessary for him to enquire if the patient is under
the care of another practitioner.
Practitioner not to 
accept a 
commission.
15. ( a ) No medical practitioner shall accept a commission or
consideration for the introduction of a patient to a
consultant, specialist or other practitioner, to a private
hospital or other institution, or to a dentist, chemist,
nurse, midwife or other person or company; and he
shall not pay a consideration for the introduction of
patients to himself.
( b ) A medical practitioner shall not participate in any
division or sharing of fees of which the patient is not
made aware of, and this shall apply to consultations
between doctors, unless he is in partnership.
( c ) It is desirable that the family doctor be present at
operations and in that case he shall charge a fee for his
attendance. If he assists, his fee will be included in the
fee for the operation and the patient or his family will
be informed accordingly.
( d ) It shall be unlawful for any practitioner to charge a fee
less than the official one. If the doctor is satisfied that
the patient cannot afford the fee, no fee shall be
charged.
Practitioner not to 
make arrangements 
with chemists, 
opticians, etc.
16. A medical practitioner must not circulate professional
cards to chemists or opticians; neither must he have any salary or
commission or any other arrangement with a chemist or optician;
he must not have financial interest either directly or indirectly in a
local chemist’s shop.
Professional 
misconduct.
17. In respect of -
( a ) untrue certification or report;
( b ) covering an association with unqualified or unlicensed
persons;
Cap. 101.
Regulations;
( d ) advertising, canvassing, lectures, broadcasting, etc.,
the General Notice mentioned in paragraph 3 issued by the Medical
Council and published in the Government Gazette of the 5th March,
1971, applies.
Change of address.
communicated under cover to patients of the practice and
announced for not more than three times through the press provided
such announcements are made in normal type. There is no objection
to a suitable notice being placed in the waiting room.
Telephone 
directories.
19.  A doctor should not allow his name to appear in special
4 [ S.L.94.15 ETHICS OF THE MEDICAL PROFESSION
type, or as a special entry, in a telephone directory. There is,
however, no objection to the indication of degrees or special post-
graduate diplomas.
Relationship with 
dentists.
20.    ( a ) The professional conduct of a dentist is guided by
principles essentially similar to those adopted by the
medical profession and the relations between a doctor
and a dentist should be subject to the same
considerations obtaining between a general practitioner
and a consultant.
( b ) When a practitioner, in whatever form of practice, has
reason to believe that a patient who requests him to
give advice or treatment, is suffering from a condition
arising from, or in connection with, dental treatment, it
is the duty of the practitioner so approached to urge the
patient to permit him to communicate with the dental
practitioner. Should the patient refuse this proposal,
the practitioner is at liberty to give such treatment as
may be necessary to deal with any emergency
condition. The practitioner so consulted shall not refer
the patient to a second dental practitioner unless he
obtains from the patient permission to disclose this fact
to the first dental practitioner.
( c ) When a patient has no dentist, it is proper, but only on
the specific request of the patient, for the doctor to
indicate the name of a dentist known to him who might
be consulted, but he should not indicate to the patient
the treatment that he considers should be given by the
dentist. The doctor should, with the permission of the
patient, communicate to the dentist his opinion of the
case.
If the doctor should require a further medical or
dental opinion, a pathological or radiological report
from a third party, or a reference to a hospital, he shall
inform the dentist concerned of the action proposed
and of the subsequent outcome.
( d ) A dentist in treating a patient may select an
anaesthetist to assist him, but if the anaesthetist is not
the patient’s own doctor no objection should be made
to the patient inviting his own doctor to be present.
Where the patient is under medical care the dentist may
be expected to inform the patient’s doctor of any
proposed operation requiring an anaesthetic.
