[ 2014-04-14 ]

Doctors asked to abide by professional ethics
The Medical and Dental Council (MDC) has urged
doctors to be guided by the ethics of the
profession and also try to keep proper records of
their engagements with patients.

The Chairman of the MDC, Dr Eric Asamoa, who made
the call, expressed dissatisfaction at the
increasing complaints that people lodged with the
council against doctors in the country.

He said many people were becoming aware of their
right to quality medical care, hence the increase
in the number of complaints.

Dr Asamoa expressed the concern at the induction
of newly qualified doctors into the MDC in Accra
on Friday.
New doctors

The 37 medical practitioners, who had their
training in countries including Cuba, Russia,
Belarus, Ukraine and Tanzania, were admitted to
the medical profession after passing the GMA
examination.

After the induction, the doctors — 24 males and
13 females — have been posted to various
hospitals to do housemanship for about a year.
Ethics

The MDC Chairman said the increasing complaints
against doctors were a worrying feature.

He could not immediately mention the number of
reported cases, but indicated that the number was
high.

He said cases reported were mainly against the
conduct of medical practitioners in the delivery
of medical service.

Dr Asamoa stressed the need for doctors to be
reminded of the oaths that they had sworn to
serve.
Penalty

The penalties against a doctor who is found guilty
of misconduct include a reprimand, a suspension or
cancellation of his registration by the MDC.
New Act

Dr Asamoa reminded doctors that an act had been
promulgated which enjoined all medical
practitioners to register with the MDC.

Besides, he said, every doctor was required to
renew his or her licence ever year.

The act stipulated that any doctor who practised
without registering with the MDC or renewing his
registration would not be allowed to practise in
Ghana, he said.

The MDC chairman told the new doctors that the act
required them to work under supervision and warned
that any new doctor who violated that provision
faced a 10-year jail term.

Source - Daily Graphic

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