Approved by the Delegate Committee on 6 May 1988 It is the aim of the code of medical
collegiality drawn up by the Finnish Medical Association to maintain
an appropriate spirit and good fellowship among the country's medical
profession. The code of medical collegiality provides guidelines for
behaviour according to collegial principles in mutual relationships
between physicians. The code does not aim to protect physicians
against the consequences of poor proficiency, misconduct or
misuse. I The behaviour of a physician towards
colleagues shall be tolerant and show good will. Disagreements can
usually be settled by listening to one another's views. Whenever
possible, professional disagreements shall be settled directly by the
physicians involved. II A physician shall not offend other
groups of the medical profession or transgress their
rights. III In his/her actions and decisions and
by his/her example, a physician shall maintain and promote
professional ethics and collegiality. As a superior and teacher in
particular, a physician must pay attention to medical ethics and
collegial behaviour. This must not, however, prevent him/her from
supervising the activities of his/her subordinates and students, nor
from investigating errors and violations committed by them and taking
the necessary measures. IV Should a physician by way of illness
or use of intoxicants or for some other reason become incapable of
treating patients and possibly even endanger them, it is the duty of
every colleague to intervene by discussing the matter with the
physician and offering help in arranging for the necessary treatment.
If this does not succeed, the colleague must inform the physician's
superior or the Finnish Medical Association of his/her
findings. A physician shall act in the same
manner irrespective of whether an apparent error committed by a
colleague in the medical profession or in an official position was
unintentional or deliberate. V A physician shall not circulate or
supply an erroneous view of his/her own or his/her colleagues'
proficiency, research or therapeutic facilities or other such facts
that may affect the choice of physician by patients or the selection
of a physici-an for a post. VI It is inappropriate for a physician
to criticise the actions of a colleague to a patient. Should he/she
find the diagnosis, treatment or other action of another physician to
be erroneous he/she must inform both the patient and the colleague in
question in an appropriate manner. A physician should always bear in
mind that he/she is also liable to err. VII When recommending a patient to
another doctor, a physician must always provide appropriate
information about the patient. With the patient's consent, the
referring doctor and the physician in charge of further treatment
must always be provided with the necessary information about the
patient and guidelines for further treatment. It is recommended that when
discontinuing his/her private consultancy, a physician shall hand
over any patient documentation with the patient's consent to the
physician who will continue the treatment. VIII If the patient or his/her families
wish to seek a second opinion, a physician shall approach the matter
in a positive manner, and his/her duty is to provide the physician to
be consulted with appropriate information about the patient. If
necessary, a physician shall also seek another physician's expert
advice unprompted. In the event that the consulted
doctor finds a notable contradiction between his/her and his/her
colleague's views with regard to the patient, he/she shall discuss
the situation directly with the colleague with the patient's
consent. IX When starting a medical research
project, it is recommended that the members of the team agree in
advance on each individual's responsibilities and duties, and the
principles of publishing the results. A physician shall not in his/her
actions or publications attribute exclusively to him/herself a
research result that has crucially depended on the work or expertise
of one or more of his/her colleagues. X Disagreements about collegiality that
cannot be otherwise settled shall be brought to the Finnish Medical
Association to be settled or solved. No information on the matter
shall be given to outsiders.CODE OF MEDICAL COLLEGIALITY
Modified in the Delegate Committee meeting on 11 December 1999
Förbund
The Finnish Medical Association -
Health Care and the Medical Profession in Finland
Association
