Subsection 4: Practice of the profession

The practice of medicine is personal; each doctor is responsible for his or her own decisions and actions.

In principle, all doctors are entitled to carry out all diagnostic, preventive and treatment procedures. However, except in exceptional circumstances, they must not undertake or continue treatment, or formulate prescriptions in areas that go beyond their knowledge, experience and available resources.

At the place where he carries out his professional practice, the doctor must have suitable facilities, adequate premises to allow professional secrecy to be respected and sufficient technical resources in relation to the nature of the procedures he carries out or the population he cares for. In particular, they must ensure that the medical devices they use are sterilised and decontaminated, and that medical waste is disposed of in accordance…

The doctor must ensure that those assisting him in his practice are informed of their obligations in terms of professional secrecy and comply with them. He must ensure that those around him do not breach the confidentiality of his professional correspondence.

Doctors must protect medical documents concerning people they have treated or examined from any indiscretion, whatever the content or medium of these documents. The same applies to medical information which may be in his possession. When using his experience or documents for scientific publication or teaching purposes, the doctor must ensure that it is not possible to identify the persons concerned. Failing this, their agreement must be obtained.

The practice of mobile medicine is prohibited. However, when the needs of public health so require, a doctor may be authorised to provide consultations and care in a mobile unit according to a pre-established programme. The application for authorisation is sent to the departmental council in whose area the planned activity is located. The council checks that the doctor has taken all the necessary steps to respond to emergencies and…

In accordance with article L. 4163-5, it is forbidden to practise medicine under a pseudonym. A doctor who uses a pseudonym for activities relating to his profession must declare this to the Conseil Départemental de l’Ordre.

The practice of medicine normally involves the drawing up by the doctor, in accordance with the medical observations he is able to make, of the certificates, attestations and documents the production of which is prescribed by the legislative and regulatory texts. Any certificate, prescription, attestation or document issued by a doctor must be written legibly in French, dated, allow the identification of the practitioner from whom it emanates and be…

It is the doctor’s duty to take part in the continuity of care within the framework of the laws and regulations that organise it.

When participating in an on-call, emergency or on-call service, the doctor must make every effort to be reached as quickly as possible. To facilitate his work, he is authorised to affix a removable plate to his vehicle bearing the words “emergency doctor” to the exclusion of all others. He must remove it as soon as his involvement in the emergency ends. He must keep the patient’s usual doctor informed of…