Section 1: Code of medical ethics

Doctors must maintain good relations with each other. A doctor who has a dispute with a colleague must seek conciliation, if necessary through the Conseil Départemental de l’Ordre. Doctors owe each other assistance in times of adversity.

Misappropriation or attempted misappropriation of customers is prohibited.

The doctor consulted by a patient being treated by one of his colleagues must respect : – the interests of the patient, in particular by dealing with any emergency situation ; – the free choice of the patient who wishes to consult another doctor. The doctor consulted must, with the patient’s agreement, inform the treating doctor of his findings and decisions. If the patient refuses, the doctor must inform the…

A doctor who is called urgently to a patient must, if the patient has to be seen again by his own doctor or another doctor, draw up a report of his intervention and prescriptions for his colleague, which he gives to the patient or sends directly to his colleague, informing the patient of this. He must keep a copy of this report.

The doctor must offer to consult a colleague as soon as circumstances require, or accept a request from the patient or those close to the patient. He must respect the patient’s choice and, unless there are serious objections, refer the patient or call on any legally qualified consultant. If he does not feel he should agree with the patient’s choice, he may recuse himself. He may also advise that another…

When the opinions of the consultant and the attending physician differ profoundly following a consultation, the patient must be informed. The attending physician is free to cease treatment if the consultant’s opinion prevails in the eyes of the patient or those close to the patient.

The consultant must not, on his own initiative, during the course of the illness which gave rise to the consultation, summon or re-examine the patient, except in an emergency, without informing the attending physician. He must not, unless the patient wishes otherwise, continue the care required by the patient’s condition when such care is the responsibility of the attending physician, and he must provide the latter with all the information…

Without prejudice to the provisions applicable to health establishments providing the public hospital service, the doctor who takes charge of a patient during hospitalisation must notify the practitioner designated by the patient or the patient’s relatives. He must keep him informed of the essential decisions with which this practitioner will be associated as far as possible.