Selected links on Ethics

Ethics refers to ways of understanding and exploring moral life in order to define what is good and the correct human practice. In all health care work, and particularly in work with persons exposed to injustice and human rights violations, a clear awareness of ethical codes, standards and principles is an absolute requirement. One of the best ways to work against the involvement of health professionals in human rights violations, and to fortify their actions to prevents such violations, is to have knowledge and clarity about ethical principles and the principles of human rights. It is in order to strengthen knowledge about these principles, as well as to strengthen the implementation of ethical codes, standards, and international conventions protecting human rights and dignity, that we now include a thematic page on ethics. We are presenting documents developed and adopted within the context of UN, by international professional bodies, and by national associations.

Introduction to Ethics

Health Ethics, Equity and Human Dignity Mamdouh Gabr
Medical ethics: four principles plus attention to scope: R Gillon, British Medical Journal 1994

Ethics and Human Rights

Compendium of United Nations standards and norms in crime prevention and criminal justice, article 15, 16 and 17. UN 2006
Resolution Against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman, and Degrading Treatment or Punishment. The American Psychologists Association. 2006
Ethical guidelines. The American Psychiatrist Association 2001
World Medical Association International Code of Medical Ethics 2006
Guidelines for Physicians Concerning Torture and other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment in Relation to Detention and Imprisonment. The World Medical Association Declaration of Tokyo. 2006
Declaration Concerning Support for Medical Doctors Refusing to Participate in, or to Condone, the Use of Torture or Other Forms of Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment. World Medical Association 1997
Madrid Declaration on Ethical Standards for Psychiatric Practice World Psychiatric Association 1997

Ethics and International Professional Guidelines

Universal Declaration of Ethical Principles for Psychologists International Union of Psychological Science (IUPsyS)
Ethics The European Federation of Psychologists Associations
WMA's Medical Ethics Manual. Different languages, World Medical Association 2007

National and regional codes of Ethics

Ethical principles of psychologist and code of conduct American Psychologist Association 2003
Ethical principles for psychiatric administrators- The AMA Principles of Medical Ethics The American Association of Psychiatric Administrators, 2002.
Code of Ethics Institute of Australasian Psychiatrists Inc. (IAP) 1997
WMA's Medical Ethics Manual. Different languages, World Medical Association 2007
Canadian Code of Ethics for Psychologists Canadian Psychological Association, 2000

Ethics and Disaster

Disaster Psychiatry Handbook Chapter 4 and 5, American Psychiatric Association - Committee on Psychiatric Dimensions of Disaster 2001.
World Medical Association Statement on Medical Ethics in the Event of Disasters World Medical Association, 2006

Ethics and Cultural Aspects

Ethics, Competence, and Professional Issues in Cross-Cultural Counseling. Paul B. Pedersen, 2007.