Declaration of Geneva

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The Declaration of Geneva was adopted by the General Assembly of the World Medical Association at Geneva in 1948, amended in 1968, 1983, 1994, editorially revised in 2005 and 2006 and amended in 2017.

Contents

It is a declaration of a physician's dedication to the humanitarian goals of medicine, a declaration that was especially important in view of the medical crimes which had just been committed in German-occupied Europe. The Declaration of Geneva was intended as a revision [1] of the Hippocratic Oath to a formulation of that oath's moral truths that could be comprehended and acknowledged in a modern way. [2] Unlike the case of the Oath of Hippocrates, the World Medical Association calls the statement a "pledge".

Creation

During the post World War II era and immediately after its foundation, the World Medical Association (WMA) showed concern over the state of medical ethics in general and all over the world, taking the responsibility for setting ethical guidelines for the world physicians. The details of the Nazi Doctors' Trial at Nuremberg which ended August 1947 and the revelations about what the Imperial Japanese Army had done at Unit 731 in China during the war clearly demonstrated the need for reform, and for a re-affirmed set of guidelines regarding both human rights and the rights of patients.[ citation needed ]

A study committee was appointed to prepare a "Charter of Medicine" which could be adopted as an oath or promise that every doctor in the world would make upon receiving their medical degree or diploma. [3] It took two years of intensive study of the oaths and promises submitted by member associations to draft a modernized wording of the ancient oath of Hippocrates which was sent for consideration at the WMA's second general assembly in Geneva in 1948. The medical vow was adopted and the assembly agreed to name it the "Declaration of Geneva." [4] This document was adopted by the World Medical Association only three months before the United Nations General Assembly adopted the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (1948) which provides for the security of the person. [5]

Declaration

The Declaration of Geneva (2017), as currently published by the World Medical Association [6] reads:

AS A MEMBER OF THE MEDICAL PROFESSION:

Changes from original

The original oath read "My colleagues will be my brothers," later changed to "sisters and brothers." Until 1994 it also read "I will maintain the utmost respect for human life, from the time of its conception (...)". [7] Age, disability, gender, and sexual orientation have been added as factors that must not interfere with a doctor's duty to a patient; some rephrasing of existing elements has occurred. Secrets are to remain confidential "even after the patient has died." The violation of "human rights and civil liberties" replaces "the laws of humanity" as a forbidden use of medical knowledge. "The health" in general of a patient is now the doctor's first consideration compared to the "health and life" as stated in the original declaration. This was apparently changed to free the medical profession from extending life at all cost. The 68th WMA General Assembly in October 2017 approved revisions including: respecting the autonomy of the patient; mutual respect for teachers, colleagues and students physicians to share medical knowledge for the benefit of their patients and the advancement of healthcare; a requirement for physicians to attend to their own health as well as their patients. [8] Furthermore, the revised text is meant to be used by all active physicians ("as member of the medical profession") while before the text was used by beginners only ("At the time of being admitted as a member of the medical profession").

Discussion about the declaration changes

The Declaration of Geneva was originally adopted by the WMA General Assembly in 1948 [9] right after one year of the formation of World Medical Association, [10] and has undergone a series of amendments throughout the years, until 2006 and the latest amendments, made at the 68th WMA General Assembly in Chicago in October 2017, make several significant additions. The most notably addition was a result of ongoing lobbying by doctor well-being advocate Dr Sam Hazledine, of MedWorld; [11] in order to provide a high standard of care to patients, doctors must look after their own health.

The newly revised Declaration of Geneva, released in October, contains some modifications in terms of words throughout but also three entirely new points.: [12]

The new Geneva Declaration version acknowledges respect for human rights of patients, the value of sharing knowledge with the community and profession, and the right and obligation of physicians to care for themselves, and to maintain their abilities for the benefit of society. [13] [14]

Timeline (WMA meetings)

See also

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References

  1. ↑ "World Medical Association (2017) press release 12 May". Wma.net. 2017-05-08. Retrieved 2018-03-14.
  2. ↑ "International Code of Medical Ethics". World Medical Association. Archived from the original on 2008-09-20.
  3. ↑ "The Story of WMA/ who we are/History". Cirp.org. 2002-06-06. Retrieved 2018-03-14.
  4. ↑ "WMA History". WMA. Archived from the original on 2015-02-06. Retrieved 2013-06-04.
  5. ↑ "The Oath". Cirp.org. 2002-06-06. Retrieved 2013-06-04.
  6. ↑ World Medical Association. "WMA Declaration of Geneva". WMA. Retrieved 14 October 2017.
  7. ↑ Merino, Aruanno, Gelpi, Rancich (2017). "THE PROHIBITION OF EUTHANASIA" AND MEDICAL OATHS OF HIPPOCRATIC STEMMA" (PDF). Acta Bioethica. 23: 171-178 (176). doi:10.4067/S1726-569X2017000100171.{{cite journal}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  8. ↑ World Medical Association. "MODERN PHYSICIANS' PLEDGE APPROVED BY WORLD MEDICAL ASSOCIATION". WMA. Retrieved 14 October 2017.
  9. ↑ WMA , The modern Hippocritic Oath, April 1956
  10. ↑ World Medical Association, The story of WMA
  11. ↑ "Queenstown doctor Sam Hazledine's petition for change has worldwide impact". Stuff. 2016-11-02. Retrieved 2022-01-26.
  12. ↑ World Medical Association WMA Geneva Declaration, 06 November, 2017
  13. ↑ LoebClassical library, 6 october 2015
  14. ↑ Claude Pavur , 22 September 2015

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