Code of Ethics
Code of Ethics for Medical Workers of Municipal State Enterprise on the Right of Economic Management “City Polyclinic No. 2” of the Almaty Public Health Department.
I. General Provisions
1. The Code of Ethics (hereinafter referred to as the Code) for medical workers is a set of ethical standards and rules of conduct that medical workers are advised to follow in the performance of their official duties.
2. The provisions of the Code apply to all medical workers of Municipal State Enterprise on the Right of Economic Management “City Polyclinic No. 2”.
II. Medical Worker and Society
3. The main purpose of a medical worker’s professional activity is to preserve human life, prevent disease and restore health, and reduce suffering in cases of incurable illness. In performing their duties, medical workers are guided by the Hippocratic Oath, the principles of humanism and compassion, and the legislation of the Republic of Kazakhstan.
4. A medical worker bears full responsibility for their decisions and actions and must therefore systematically improve their professional competence.
5. In their work, medical workers must use the latest achievements of medical science known to them and approved for use by the Ministry of Health of the Republic of Kazakhstan.
6. Motives of material or personal gain must not influence a medical worker’s professional decisions.
7. A medical worker must not accept incentives from manufacturers or distributors of medicinal products for prescribing the medicines they offer.
8. When prescribing medicines, a medical worker must be guided strictly by medical indications and solely by the interests of the patient.
9. A medical worker must provide medical assistance to anyone who needs it regardless of age, sex, race, nationality, religion, social status, political views, citizenship, or other non-medical factors, including financial circumstances.
10. A medical worker must conscientiously fulfill the obligations undertaken in relation to the Regional Diagnostic Center.
11. A medical worker must promote a healthy lifestyle by available means (newspapers, magazines, radio, television, discussions, etc.) and set an example in observing public and professional ethical standards.
12. A medical worker may engage in other activities provided they are compatible with professional independence, do not diminish the dignity of the medical worker, and do not harm patients or the medical worker’s professional activities.
13. The humane goals served by a medical worker entitle them to demand lawful protection of their personal dignity, adequate material support, and conditions necessary for professional activity.
14. Compliance with medical ethics by medical workers is monitored directly by department heads.
15. Conflicts of interest are governed by the rights and obligations of the employer and employee in accordance with the collective agreement.
16. Employee incentives are provided in accordance with the collective agreement and the regulations on employee bonuses.
III. Medical Worker and Patient
17. A medical worker is responsible for the quality of medical care provided to patients. In their work, they must be guided by the laws of the Republic of Kazakhstan and current regulatory documents (medical standards), while within those requirements and taking into account the specifics of the disease, choosing the methods of prevention, diagnosis, and treatment that they consider most effective in each particular case, guided by the patient’s interests. Where necessary, the medical worker must seek assistance from colleagues.
18. A medical worker must not expose a patient to unjustified risk, much less use professional knowledge for inhumane purposes. When choosing any method of treatment, the medical worker must above all be guided by the principle “Do no harm!”
19. A medical worker must respect the patient’s right to choose an attending physician and medical institution and to participate in decisions concerning therapeutic and preventive measures. A medical worker usually obtains the patient’s voluntary consent to treatment in a personal conversation with the patient. This consent must be informed: the patient must be told about the methods of treatment, the consequences of their use, including possible complications, and other alternative methods of treatment. Diagnostic and therapeutic procedures without the patient’s consent are permitted only when there is a threat to the patient’s life and health and the patient is unable to assess the situation adequately. In such cases, a collegial decision is preferable.
20. A medical worker must respect the patient’s honor and dignity, treat the patient with kindness, respect the patient’s right to privacy, maintain confidentiality, and respond with understanding to the concern of relatives and loved ones about the patient’s condition; at the same time, the medical worker must not interfere in the private affairs of the patient or family members without sufficient professional grounds.
21. If a patient is unable to give informed consent, it must be provided by the patient’s legal representative or a person who permanently cares for the patient.
22. A patient has the right to comprehensive information about their health, but may refuse such information or designate a person to whom information about their health should be disclosed. Information may be withheld from the patient if there are compelling grounds to believe that it could cause serious harm. However, if the patient clearly requests it, the medical worker must provide full information. In the event of an unfavorable prognosis, the patient must be informed with the utmost tact and care, while preserving hope for a longer life and a possible favorable outcome.
23. At the patient’s request, a medical worker must not obstruct the patient’s right to seek consultation from another medical worker.
24. Self-promotion by a medical worker when communicating with a patient is unacceptable.
25. If an error occurs or unforeseen complications develop during treatment, the medical worker must inform the patient and the immediate supervisor and immediately begin taking action to correct the harmful consequences.
26. A physician may perform professional duties only under their own surname, without using a pseudonym and without indicating officially conferred titles, degrees, or ranks.
IV. Collegiality Among Medical Workers
27. Throughout life, a medical worker must retain respect and gratitude toward those who taught them professional skills, continuously improve their professional level, and actively participate in the introduction of new research methods.
28. A medical worker must safeguard the honor and noble traditions of the medical community. Medical workers must treat one another with respect and goodwill.
29. A medical worker has no right to publicly question another medical worker’s professional qualifications or otherwise discredit them. Professional comments addressed to a colleague must be well founded, expressed in a non-offensive manner, preferably in a private conversation.
30. Physicians who head healthcare institutions must ensure the professional development of subordinate medical workers.
31. Medical workers must treat other medical and support staff of the institution with respect and continuously promote their professional development.
32. A medical worker must not demand unlawful monetary remuneration from a patient.
V. Medical Confidentiality
33. Every patient has the right to privacy, and a physician, as well as other persons involved in providing medical care, must preserve medical confidentiality even after the patient’s death, including the very fact that the patient sought medical care, unless the patient has directed otherwise.
34. Confidentiality covers all information obtained in the course of the patient’s consultation and treatment (diagnosis, treatment methods, prognosis, etc.).
35. Medical information about a patient may be disclosed:
- with the patient’s clearly expressed written consent;
- upon a reasoned request from inquiry, investigation, prosecution, or judicial authorities;
- if maintaining confidentiality poses a substantial threat to the health and life of the patient and/or other persons (dangerous infectious diseases);
- when other specialists are involved in treatment and the information is professionally necessary for them.
36. A physician must ensure that persons involved in the patient’s treatment also observe professional confidentiality.
37. Persons entitled to access medical information must keep confidential all information obtained about the patient.
VI. Information and Advertising
38. A medical worker must not participate in advertising methods or products for prevention, diagnosis, or treatment, especially medicinal products that are not approved for use in the Republic of Kazakhstan, nor narcotic substances, alcohol, or tobacco products.
39. Medical publications, presentations at scientific forums, and educational activities in the press, on radio, and on television must be ethically impeccable, limited to objective scientific and practical information, and contain no elements of unfair competition, advertising, or self-promotion.
40. A medical worker must report to the immediate supervisor all unknown or adverse side effects of medicinal products observed by them.
41. At informational events organized with the participation of manufacturers of medicinal products and medical equipment, a medical worker must primarily focus on informational objectives and must not personally carry out promotional activities among patients encouraging the purchase of such products before their state registration in the prescribed manner.