ETHICS FOR PATHOLOGISTS

College of Pathologists Pakistan

Maj Gen (Retd) Farooq Ahmad KhanMBBS, MCPS,FCPS,FCPP, Dip Endocrinology,FRCPI,FRCPath,PhD

President College of Pathologists Pakistan

PROMOTING EDUCATION ,GOOD LABORATORY PRACTICES & RESEARCH IN PATHOLOGY

 

Sequence of presentation

Mission statement

Code of ethics

Conduct of a pathologist

Role of standing committee on ethics

3

Ethics & Pathologists

Basis of all meaningful and acceptable human activities

Pathologist need a code of their own

First attempt for a specialty to provide a code of ethics

4

Pathologist: Trust relationship

Patients

Other physicians

Public

Medical community

Technologists

Courts and coroner

An ethical concept

Reason and logic

Ways of applying ethical practices in

lab

Values

Trust Harm

Ethical & Legal issues

•Licensure & disciplinary actions•Civil liability

Legal issues in pathology

•Quackery •Misdiagnosis

Torts and discipline

Scope of our work

Prenatal diagnosis

Drug abuse

Forensic autopsy

Second opinion review

Mission statement

College of Pathologists Pakistan is an ethical and moral organization to serve the best interests of

the discipline of Pathology. It values the moral and ethical values as the most sacred and the most

precious asset of the organization

Objectives

Committed to the highest standards of ethical conduct

Create environment for active and enthusiastic contributions by its members

Adhere to the strict criteria of justice and merit

Serve as an example of honesty ,integrity and uprightness

Abide by the established codes of ethics

10

CODE OF ETHICS

College of Pathologists Pakistan

Applicability12

No rights created

A statement of certain fundamental principles, policies

and proceduresNo rights created in

any employee, customer, supplier,

competitor and shareholder

13

Integrity

Personal and professional integrity

Promote values of truth , accuracy & accountability

Accuracy of all information will be ensured

14

Accountability

Self and organizational accountability

Responsible for all our professional acts

Mechanisms devised to monitor and promote good management

All local and national laws and regulations governing practice of medicine followed faithfully

15

Conflicts of interest

No judgment on any

professional

activity compromised

All known or potential conflicts disclose

d to stakehol

ders

16

Advertising

Disseminate information to public about pathology and its role in patient care

Conform to the high standard expected of a physician

Nameplates/Signboards would not be large or misleading

Opinion of the Ethics Committee sought

17

Fund raising & commercial interests

Aim of serving humanity and welfare of the patient through better diagnosis

Coercive practices for fund raising not permitted

Select products and equipment by employing independent and impartial judgment

18

Professional relationship

Respect and consideration at

all times

Diversity encouraged in all activities

No tolerance for discrimination or

harassment

19

Privacy and confidentiality

Any information will not be

communicated in an

unauthorized manner

Disclosure permissible for fulfilling legal

requirements/benefit of the

patient

Laboratory reports and

records of the patient

released by written consent

of patient/authoriz

ed representative

20

Informed consent

Written informed

consent may not be

required in all cases

Patient reporting for test in a lab

would indicate implied consent

21

Second consultation

A second opinion from professional

colleagues

Provide all material under his

possession or control for such

opinion

Care exercised not to affect the reputation of the

original consultant

22

Research and publications

Provide protection to the life/well being of any human subject

Subjects informed about the aims, methodology and possible hazards

Subjects afforded opportunity to withdraw from the project

Result of research will not be suppressed

Guide toward proper scientific and unbiased diagnostic and research methodologies

Plagiarism in any form is unacceptable

23

24

Adherence to code of ethics for physicians

CPP fellows and members will comply with code of ethics for medical profession

approved by the College

25

CONDUCT OF A PATHOLOGIST

College of Pathologists Pakistan

Conduct of a pathologist: Do’s

Upright and honest in all

affairs

Choose the most appropriate equipment

and reagents based on merit

Try to stop all unethical practices

and corruption

Observe the highest possible Total

Quality Management System

Safeguard the interest of the

patients

Treat patients as human beings with

due respect and honor

27

Conduct of a pathologist: Don’ts

Engage in any immoral and unethical practice of pathology or medicine

Use the hospital laboratory for promotion of his/her private practice

Give a false impression about his qualifications

Hire under or unqualified personnel at his/her laboratory

Compromise the standards of the laboratory; public or private

Encourage unnecessary and costly tests

Remain silent or indifferent seeing wrongs in medical and pathology practice

28

Role of standing committee

Refer policy issues which require examination from the ethical stand point

Make suitable recommendations to ensure functioning on solid ethical and moral grounds

Examine cases of individuals or institutions in conflict with code of ethics

Carry out necessary and appropriate inquiries providing right of hearing to the accused party

29

Role of standing committee

Guidelines for committee

Quackery and unscientific methods contaminating the pure professional work/research not allowed

Seeping of greed orientation and corruption not allowed

Guard the human rights

Promoting ethical values in laboratory procedures and environment

30

How to be an ethical pathologist

Good ethics comes as much from the search to be ethical as it does from

understanding ‘ethics’

Acknowledgment

Prof Manzoor Ahmad (President) Prof Anwar ul Haque (Chair) Prof Anwar Ali Akhund

Prof Athar Saeed Dil

Dr Muhammad Fayyaz

Dr Muhammad Iqbal Khan

Dr Lubna Naseem Mr Rana Naveed Mr Wahajus Siraj

THANKSCollege of Pathologists Pakistan