4245_002_Ethical_principles_web

ETHICAL PRINCIPLES OF HEALTH
CARE IN TIMES OF ARMED CONFLICT
AND OTHER EMERGENCIES
Within the framework of the Health Care in Danger project, the World Medical Association (WMA), the
International Committee of Military Medicine (ICMM), the International Council of Nurses (ICN) and
the International Pharmaceutical Federation (FIP) were consulted by the ICRC with the aim of these
organizations agreeing on a common denominator of ethical principles of health care applicable in
times of armed conflict and other emergencies. The following document, which is the result of these
consultations, is without prejudice to existing policy documents adopted by these organizations.
Civilian and military health-care organizations share the common goal of improving the safety of their
personnel and other health assets and the delivery of impartial and efficient health care in armed conflicts
and other emergencies,
Referring to the principles of humanity, whereby human suffering shall be prevented and alleviated
wherever it may be found and impartiality, whereby health care shall be provided with no
discrimination;
Bearinginmindthestandardsofinternationalhumanitarianlaw,inparticularthe1949GenevaConventions
and their 1977 Additional Protocols, and of international human rights law, specifically the Universal
Declaration of Human Rights (1948) and the International Covenants on Civil and Political Rights and on
Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (1966);
Considering the principles of professional ethics adopted by health-care professional associations,
including the WMA Regulations in Times of Armed Conflict and Other Situations of Violence;
Endorse the following ethical principles of health care:
GENERAL PRINCIPLES
1. Ethical principles of health care do not change in times of armed conflict and other emergencies
and are the same as the ethical principles of health care in times of peace.
2. Health-care personnel shall at all times act in accordance with relevant international and national
law, ethical principles of health care and their conscience. In providing the best available care, they
shall take into consideration the equitable use of resources.
3. The primary task of health-care personnel is to preserve human physical and mental health and to
alleviate suffering. They shall provide the necessary care with humanity, while respecting the dignity
of the person concerned, with no discrimination of any kind, whether in times of peace or of armed
conflict or other emergencies.
4. Privileges and facilities afforded to health-care personnel in times of armed conflict and other
emergencies are never to be used for purposes other than for health-care needs.
5. No matter what arguments may be put forward, health-care personnel never accept acts of torture
or any other form of cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment under any circumstances, including
armed conflict or other emergencies. They must never be present at and may never take part in such
acts.
RELATIONS WITH PATIENTS
6. Health-care personnel act in the best interest of their patients and whenever possible with their
explicit consent. If, in performing their professional duties, they have conflicting loyalties, their
primary obligation, in terms of their ethical principles, is to their patients.
7. In armed conflict or other emergencies, health-care personnel are required to render immediate
attention and requisite care to the best of their ability. No distinction is made between patients,
except in respect of decisions based upon clinical need and available resources.
8. Health-care personnel respect patients’ right to confidentiality. It is ethical for health-care personnel
to disclose confidential information only with the patient’s consent or when there is a real and
imminent threat of harm to the patient or to others
9. Health-care personnel make their best efforts to ensure respect for the privacy of the wounded,
sick and deceased, including avoiding the use of health care for the wounded and sick, whether
civilian or military, for publicity or political purposes.
PROTECTION OF HEALTH-CARE PERSONNEL
10. Health-care personnel, as well as health-care facilities and medical transports, whether military or
civilian, must be respected by all. They are protected while performing their duties and the safest
possible working environment shall be provided to them.
11. Safe access by health-care personnel to patients, health-care facilities and equipment shall not be
unduly impeded, nor shall patients’ access to health-care facilities and health-care personnel be
unduly impeded.
12. In fulfilling their duties and where they have the legal right, health-care personnel are identified
by internationally recognized symbols such as the Red Cross, Red Crescent or Red Crystal as a visible
manifestation of their protection under applicable international law.
13. Health-care personnel shall never be punished for executing their duties in compliance with legal
and ethical norms.
FINAL
14. By endorsing these ethical principles of health care, the signatory organizations commit themselves
to work for the promotion and implementation thereof wherever possible, including by appropriate
dissemination amongst their members.