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Ethics
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The codes of Ethics framed
by Alternative Medical Council Calcutta are as follows.
A. Duties of Practitioners
In General:
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A practitioner must
always maintain the highest standards of professional conduct towards
both the individual and society.
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A practitioner must not
allow himself to be influenced merely by motives or profit.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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:
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A practitioner must always
bear in mind the importance of preserving all life from the time of
conception until death.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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Every patient has the
right to expect a complete and thorough examination of his disorder and
those accurate records will be kept.
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A practitioner should
unceasingly, in the interests of his patients improve his knowledge and
skill continuously.
C. Duties of Practitioners
to Each Other:
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A practitioner ought to
behave towards his colleagues to create mutual trust.
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A practitioner must not
entice patients from his colleagues.
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A practitioner must
observe all the principles and guidelines laid down by Alternative
Medical Council Calcutta.
D. The Practitioner and
Commercial Undertakings:
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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.
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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.
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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:
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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Public Lectures or
addresses to lay audiences may be given on professional subjects in
order to promote Alternative Medicines.
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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.
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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.
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Practitioners may display
the titles after conferment, in addition to their clinical
qualifications.
F. Cancellation of
Registration:
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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.
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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.
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An expelled practitioner
shall, be liable to pay all sums due from him to the Council at
the time of his expulsion.
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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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Alternative Medical Council Calcutta, Helabot-tala(above Country Motor), Barasat, Kolkata - 700125, India
Ph. (033) 2542 5572 Fax: (033) 2542 4072

amcc@vsnl.net
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