■ I. Purpose
The Armed Forces Kaohsiung General Hospital (hereinafter referred to as the Hospital) establishes this Medical Ethics Code (hereinafter referred to as the Code) to ensure that medical personnel, when performing clinical duties, strictly adhere to internationally recognized medical ethics standards that are appropriate to national conditions, protect patients' rights, and clarify interactions between medical personnel and pharmaceutical companies (vendors).
■ II. Scope of Application
This Code applies to medical personnel serving the Hospital, including physicians, dentists, pharmacists, nurses, physical therapists, medical laboratory technologists, radiologic technologists, dietitians, social workers, and other individuals holding professional medical certifications, as well as all types of trainee students.
■ III. Basic Principles of Medical Ethics
Medical personnel, when performing clinical medical duties, must strictly observe the professional ethical principles of medical ethics.
1. Principle of patient autonomy (respect for autonomy): For patients with decision‑making capacity, their autonomy must be respected, including their right to choose to accept or refuse treatment.
2. Principle of non‑maleficence: Efforts should be made to avoid physical and mental harm to patients.
3. Principle of beneficence: Efforts should be made to protect patients' lives, health, and fully safeguard their interests.
4. Principle of justice: Treat all patients fairly and do not discriminate for any reason.
■ IV. Medical Ethics Rules
1. Medical personnel should devote themselves to providing patients with comprehensive medical care to safeguard patients' lives and health, and treat patients with empathy and concern, respecting patients' personal dignity and rights.
2. When performing any clinical duties, professional conduct must be strictly observed. Interactions with peers must be honest, with mutual respect for each other's professionalism, and must not allow the pursuit of improper benefits to influence professional judgments made for patients. If other healthcare workers are found to have poor character or competence, engage in fraud, or conceal facts that affect patients' rights, they should be promptly admonished or reported through proper channels.
3. Laws must be obeyed; even if compliance is unfavorable to the patient, it must not be violated, though efforts should be made to minimize any harm.
4. The rights of patients, peers, and other members of the healthcare team must be respected, and patients' privacy protected; any patient condition or information known or held due to professional duties (including that of deceased individuals) must not be disclosed.
5. Recognize the limits of one's professional skills; at appropriate times seek peer assistance, consultation, or referral, and respect the patient's desire for a second opinion and choice of treatment.
6. Do not accept improper remuneration or other gratuitous benefits from vendors or patients.
7. Without hospital permission, do not disclose to the media new technologies or treatment methods that have not been academically validated.
8. Without hospital permission, do not release or disclose any specific medical service to the media.
9. When providing expert opinions on medical dispute cases, medical personnel must not produce false or inaccurate reports or statements.
■ V. Medical Personnel, Patients, and Their Families
1. Based on a patient‑centered spirit, medical personnel should follow professional ethical principles, acting with honesty and conscientious competence in medical activities.
2. Patients' privacy must be protected; patient conditions or any other information known or held due to professional duties must not be disclosed without cause, nor should media interviews or filming of patients be allowed arbitrarily.
3. When physicians treat patients, they should sincerely, honestly, and tactfully explain the condition, various treatment options, their advantages and disadvantages, and prognosis to the patient or their family, while respecting privacy, ensuring an appropriate environment, and isolating unrelated persons.
4. Inquiries from patients or their families regarding the condition must be answered thoroughly; refusal is not permitted, nor may misleading information be given that creates incorrect expectations or decisions. If recording audio or video is needed during a discussion, the patient’s consent must be obtained first.
5. No statements, insinuations, or acceptance of remuneration, gifts, or other gratuitous benefits beyond hospital regulations may be made to patients or their families.
6. The patient’s condition and medical process must be fully and accurately recorded in the medical or nursing records, and no more than one version of the record may exist.
7. When medical personnel are limited by equipment or expertise and cannot provide appropriate treatment, they should promptly recommend referral and do their best to facilitate the referral.
8. For items not covered by national health insurance, patients or their families must not be persuaded to accept them. If use is deemed necessary, relevant hospital regulations must be followed.
9. When caring for patients, if difficulties arise or there is doubt about the handling method, senior or other professional opinions should be consulted immediately; one must not persist or force actions that could lead to adverse outcomes.
10. Medical personnel should visit according to the hospital’s consultation regulations, sign comments and provide suggestions, and continue follow‑up visits until the consultation purpose is concluded.
11. For any human subject experiments, medical personnel must follow statutory procedures. Conducting such experiments without completing legal procedures is prohibited.
12. Physicians must not refuse but should carefully issue diagnostic certificates based on the actual condition or medical records, and record them in the medical record.
■ VI. Medical Personnel and Pharmaceutical Companies or Vendors
1. Medical personnel must not engage in improper socializing or reciprocal entertainment with pharmaceutical companies or vendors.
2. Medical personnel must not accept money, gifts, vouchers, or other valuable securities from pharmaceutical companies or vendors in matters related to their duties.
3. Medical personnel must not receive remuneration or gifts from pharmaceutical companies or vendors for the provision of products or services.
4. Medical personnel must not request or accept free or discounted medical supplies from pharmaceutical companies or vendors. However, reasonable samples or supplies for medical education or research approved by the Hospital are exempt.
5. When participating in medical academic or other related activities sponsored by pharmaceutical companies or vendors, medical personnel must not accept improper fees from the organizers.
■ VII. Handling of Violations of This Code
1. If a violation occurs, after review by the Hospital’s Medical Ethics Committee, the following actions may be taken: 1. Warning 2. Reprimand 3. Record of demerit 4. Transfer 5. Dismissal, with recommendation that the Hospital’s Personnel Evaluation Committee consider appropriate action.
2. All types of trainee students and resident physicians shall be referred by the Hospital’s Medical Education Committee to their respective training units for handling. If necessary, they must attend ethics education sessions arranged by the Medical Education Committee.
■ VIII. Revision and Implementation
The publication and implementation of this Code, after approval by the Hospital’s Medical Ethics Committee and submission to the Director for ratification, shall be announced and enforced; the same procedure applies to any revisions.
Source: Medical Department
