Following a controversy over replacing the Hippocratic Oath with Charak Shapath in medical colleges, the National Medical Commission (NMC) has now proposed the introduction of the Physician’s Pledge as per the World Medical Association’s Declaration of Geneva. In the draft regulations for the professional conduct of doctors released on May 23, the regulatory body, which looks into the functioning of medical education and professionals in the country, has a 14-point code of ethics as Physician’s Pledge.
The code of ethics will serve as the commitment of the registered medical practitioner toward patients, society, professional colleagues, and self. “NMC Code of Ethics is framed as a self-regulatory set of guidelines reflecting professional as well as social expectations,” it adds.
The NMC has posted the draft Registered Medical Practitioners (Professional Conduct) Regulations 2022 for comments from the public, experts, and stakeholders.
As per the NMC draft, the new pledge includes respect for autonomy and dignity of patients and vows to attend to one’s own health and well-being in order to provide care of the highest standard. Unlike the older declaration which stated, “I will maintain the utmost respect for human life from the time of conception”, the new one says “will maintain the utmost respect for human life.”