CODE OF ETHICS OF THE Section 2.

A physician should be free to choose

PHILIPPINE MEDICAL ASSOCIATION patients.

Section 3. In an emergency, provided there is no

risk to his or her safety, a physician should
ARTICLE 1
administer at least first aid treatment and then
GENERAL PRINCIPLES
refer the patient to the primary physician and/or to
Section 1. The primary objective of the practice of
a more competent health provider and appropriate
medicine is service to mankind irrespective of race,
facility if necessary.
age, disease, disability, gender, sexual orientation,
social standing, creed or political affiliation. In
Section 4. In serious/difficult cases, or when the
medical practice, reward or financial gain should
circumstances of the patient or the family so
be a subordinate consideration.
demand or justify, the attending physician should
seek the assistance of the appropriate specialist.
Section 2. On entering the profession, a physician
assumes the obligation of maintaining the
Section 5. A physician should exercise good faith
honorable tradition that confers the well deserved
and honesty in expressing opinion/s as to the
title of a “friend of mankind”. The physician should
diagnosis, prognosis, and treatment of a case under
cherish a proper pride in the calling and conduct
his/her care. A physician shall respect the right of
himself/herself in accordance with this Code and in
the patient to refuse medical treatment. Timely
the generally accepted principles of the
notice of the worsening of the disease should be
International Code of Medical Ethics.
given to the patient and/or family. A physician
shall not conceal nor exaggerate the patient’s
Section 3. Physicians should fulfill the civic duties
condition except when it is to the latter’s best
of a good citizen, must conform to the laws and
interest. A physician shall obtain from the patient a
cooperate with the proper authorities in the
voluntary informed consent. In case of
application of medical knowledge for the promotion
unconsciousness or in a state of mental deficiency
of the common welfare.
the informed consent may be given by a spouse or
immediate relatives and in the absence of both, by
Section 4. Physicians should work together in
the party authorized by an advanced directive of
harmony and mutual respect.
the patient. Informed consent in the case of minor
should be given by the parents or guardian,
Section 5. Physicians should cooperate with and
members of the immediate family that are of legal
safeguard the interest, reputation and dignity of
age.
paramedical and other health professionals.

Section 6. The physician should hold as sacred and

Section 6. Physicians should be upright, diligent,
highly confidential whatever may be discovered or
sober, modest and well versed in both the science
learned pertinent to the patient even after death,
and the art of the profession.
except when required in the promotion of justice,
safety and public health.
Section 7. The promotion and advancement of the
health of the patients should be prioritized over the
Section 7. Professional fees should be
benefits of the physicians and the health products
commensurate to the services rendered with due
industries.
consideration to the patient’s financial status,
nature of the case, time consumed and the
professional standing and skill of the physician in
the community.

ARTICLE II
DUTIES OF PHYSICIANS TO THEIR PATIENTS
ARTICLE III
DUTIES OF PHYSICIANS TO THE COMMUNITY
Section 1. A physician should be dedicated to
provide competent medical care with full
Section 1. A physician should cooperate with the
professional skill in accordance with the current
duly constituted health authorities in the education
standards of care, compassion, independence and
and enforcement of laws and regulations for the
respect for human dignity.
promotion of health. Furthermore, in times of
epidemic and public calamity, except when his or ARTICLE IV
her personal safety is at stake, the physician must DUTIES OF PHYSICIANS TO THEIR COLLEAGUES
attend to the victims, alert the public and duly AND TO THE PROFESSION
constituted health authorities on the dangers of
communicable diseases and enforce measures for Section 1. A physician shall waive his professional
prevention and cure in accordance with existing fees to a colleague, his or her spouse, children and
laws, rules and regulations. parents who are financially dependent on him.

Section 2. A physician shall assist the government Section 2. When necessary, the attending physician
in the administration of justice in accordance with should always seek consultation from an available
law. He/she may be accorded a fair and just appropriate specialist.
remuneration when called upon as an expert
witness. Section 3. The primary and consultant physicians
should always observe the proper protocol of the
Section 3. A physician is encouraged to expose and referral system. The consultant may make another
report to the proper authorities unlicensed medical referral but should seek permission from the
practitioners, charlatans and quacks in as much as primary physician. In making a referral, a physician
their nefarious practices may cause injury to health should forward a clinical abstract and specify the
and life. A physician should never condone nor purpose as to whether the case is for
connive with such fake health providers. opinion/evaluation, for co-management, or for
transfer of service.
Section 4. A physician shall not employ agents in
the solicitation and recruitment of patients. For the Section 4. With the consent of the patient, in cases
promotion of medical practice, a physician may use where a physician has to suspend service during
professional cards, classified advertising, temporary absences, the substitute physician shall
publications, internet, directories and signboards. treat the patient with the same dedication and
Signboards shall not exceed one by two (1x2) quality of care extended to his/her own patient.
meters in size. Except in internet web sites, only The patient should be returned to the care of the
the name of the physician, field of specialty, office primary physician as soon as possible.
hours or office or residential addresses may appear.
The act of the physician in publishing his or her Section 5. Whenever a physician makes a social or
personal superiority, special certificates or business call on a patient under the care of
diplomas, post graduate training, specific methods another, making comments pertaining to the case is
of treatment, operative techniques or former unethical unless if an emergency arises.
connections with hospitals or clinics is not allowed.
However, these matters may be placed by a Section 6. Whenever there is an irreconcilable
physician within the confines of his clinic or difference of opinion in the management of a case,
residence. For internet web sites, recognizing the the matter should be referred to the Philippine
right of a patient to know the capabilities and Medical Association or the specialty society
qualifications of his doctor, special certificates or concerned.
diplomas, post graduate training and former
connections with hospitals or clinics may be posted. Section 7. Members of the editorial board of
medical journals should possess adequate
Section 5. A physician involved in multi media must qualifications. Written articles and scientific
be well informed of the matter under discussion. presentations in scientific conferences should
Only the name of the physician and membership to include full disclosure of any pharmaceutical
a society or institution may be mentioned or support and should be independent of any
posted. A physician should only make a general commercial influence.
opinion and shall refrain from making a specific
diagnosis, therapy or projection to individual cases Section 8. A physician shall not receive any
in his appearances in the broadcast media. An commission for referring patients to a colleague,
article written by a physician must be third person or institution. However, nominal gifts
evidence-based and disclose connections with during occasions may be received by a physician.
pharmaceutical or health product companies. A
physician shall not commercially endorse any Section 9. A physician is encouraged to report to
medical or health product. the Philippine Medical Association or the Board of
Medicine personal knowledge of any corrupt or
dishonest conduct of the members of the ARTICLE VI
profession. RELATIONSHIP OF PHYSICIANS WITH THE HEALTH
PRODUCTS INDUSTRY
Section 10. Continuing medical education Section 1. The physician shall not derive any form
conferences and professional meetings must of material gain from product samples.
contribute to improve and optimize patients care or
address the educational needs of the targeted Section 2. Physicians may participate in
medical audience. They must be organized by a post-marketing or similar activities where they are
medical society on its own or in cooperation with asked to try new products on patients provided that
sponsoring entities. the patients are properly informed and have given
their informed consent. Physicians are encouraged
Section 11. Funds from commercial sources may be to report or share the result of such activities to
accepted for the benefit of the association or the duly constituted authorities.
society.
Section 3. Only gifts of reasonable value that
Section 12. Physicians may accept reasonable primarily entail benefit to patient care or related
subsidies from health and other industries to to physicians’ work may be accepted by a physician
support their participation in CME events. from a health product company.

Section 13. The faculty/speaker/consultant of Section 4. Physicians may request donations for a
conferences or meetings is allowed to accept from charitable purpose for as long as it does not
health industries honoraria and reimbursement for redound to his or her personal benefit.
reasonable transportation, lodging and meal
expenses. Section 5. Research activities shall be ethically
defensible, socially responsible, and scientifically
Section 14. Scholarships for physicians and medical valid. Any remuneration should be reasonable and
students are permissible as long as the selection of should not constitute an enticement.
scholars are made by the organizers or academic
institutions concerned. Section 6 Research trials conducted by physicians
for an industry should be done in accordance with
Section 15. Generic names shall be used during the the national or institutional guidelines for the
course of CME activities. However, after the protection of human subjects.
lectures, the sponsoring entity may promote or
indicate their branded products.

Section 16. When commercial exhibits are part of

the overall program, arrangements for these should
not influence the planning nor interfere with the ARTICLE VII
CME activities. Only relevant information of the AMENDMENTS
product should be included in the exhibit area.
Section 1. The Board of Governors of the
Association, upon recommendation of the
Commission on Ethics may amend or repeal this
code by a 2/3 vote of the members of the Board.
Amendments shall be subsequently ratified by the
Article V General Assembly following the approval by the
DUTIES OF PHYSICIANS TO ALLIED PROFESSIONALS Board.

Section 1. Physicians should never pay nor receive

commission to or from any allied health worker for
cases referred.