Integrity in Practice - A Practical Guide for Medical Practitioners on Corruption Prevention

Doctors are bestowed the unique power to make diagnosis, decide treatment plans and prescribe medicine, which will affect the life and death of their patients. In view of the sacred nature of the job, which requires individual precise judgement, professional knowledge, skill and integrity, doctors are highly respected in society, and the public expects them to be responsible and accountable for their practice as well as their other activities.

Many other professions have an open monitoring mechanism to supervise and review the performance, behaviour and integrity of individual members. In contrast, doctors, especially those in solo practice, are more autonomous, relying on their sense of responsibility and accountability towards patients, professional groups, peers and the public. As society becomes increasingly transparent, the fact is that the performance of doctors is the subject of increasing public interest. To meet this increasing demand for accountability, doctors have to practise medicine and behave in a way, which is reputable and perceived to be reputable. Doctors have to meet and exceed the expectations set by the legal requirements. This will help in building up trust with their patients and maintaining the good image of the profession. It also fulfills their fiduciary duty with the patient's life and well-being entrusted to them.