Australian Medical Association

The idea of a chaperone may seem old fashioned. But patients differ in their preception of what is required during a medical examination,  particularly if the patient comes from a different background. The presence of a chaperone is one way to minimise complaints being made against doctors.

Whenever you are conducting an examination, whether it is in a suburban surgery or in a busy hospital, consider whether you should have a chaperone present.

It has become increasingly common for health practitioners not holding a medical degree or professional doctorate qualifications, to adopt the title ‘Doctor’ (Dr). The AMA opposes the use of the title ‘Dr’  by health practitioners in a way that misleads people into believing they are consulting or receiving treatment from a medical practitioner.

The purpose of this Guideline is to clarify the responsibilities of medical practitioners, patients, and relevant third parties regarding certificates certifying illness ("sickness certificates") within the context of the doctor-patient relationship.

AMA Position Statement on Medical Professionalism 2010

The AMA today released a Position Statement on medical professionalism that identifies the major values of the medical profession, including doctors’ commitment to put patients first.

The AMA Position Statement on Medical Professionalism 2010 draws on the AMA Code of Ethics and the AMA-endorsed World Medical Association Declaration of Geneva and the Declaration of Seoul on Professional Autonomy and Clinical Independence.

AMA President, Dr Andrew Pesce, said there is global professional and community interest in the concept of medical professionalism and what it means to be a medical professional in today’s dynamic health care environment and broader social environment.

“The Position Statement serves to identify the major values of the profession and highlights the profession’s commitment, and indeed responsibility, to put patients first, regardless of the challenges posed by a rapidly changing health care environment,” Dr Pesce said.

The AMA's Position Statement on Doctors' Relationships with Industry 2010 provides guidance for doctors on maintaining ethical relationships with the pharmaceutical industry, medical device and technology industry, and health care product and service suppliers in general ('industry'). While collaboration between doctors and industry contributes beneficially to the quality of health care that Australians receive, doctors have a responsibility to ensure that their relationships with industry are consistent with their duties to their patients and towards society at large.

AMA Position Statement on Doctors’ Relationships With Industry 2010

The AMA today released a revised Position Statement to provide guidance to doctors on maintaining ethical relationships with the pharmaceutical industry, the medical device and technology industry, and other care and product suppliers.

The Position Statement on Doctors’ Relationships with Industry 2010 sets out major principles for doctors’ relationships with industry, including managing potential conflicts of interest.

AMA President, Dr Andrew Pesce, said the AMA believes that collaboration between doctors and industry contributes beneficially to the quality of health care that Australians receive.

“However, doctors have a responsibility to ensure that their relationships with industry are consistent with their duties to their patients and to society at large,” Dr Pesce said.

The AMA supports high quality primary health care services that are convenient for patients and enhance patient access.

Incorporating pharmacy services into general practice would improve patient care, and medication management in particular, by allowing GPs to lead a team of co-located health professionals, including pharmacists, in providing collaborative health care to local patients.

A General Practice Pharmacy could be established within or next to an existing general practice and there should be the option for doctor owned pharmacies as an integral part of providing patients with convenient access to primary care services. Pharmacists would still retain the professional and legal responsibility for dispensing medicines, independent of the GP.

To enable these services to be established, the current restrictions on pharmacy location and ownership need to be lifted.

The AMA Ethics and Medico Legal Committee is developing guidelines for members on managing potential conflicts of interest that may arise from pharmacy ownership by the medical profession.

The Position Statement on Human Genetic Issues 1998. Revised 2000. Revised 20021 outlines the AMA's views on diverse issues such as genetic privacy and non-discrimination, performance of medical genetic testing, patents,cloning, and eugenics. In 2010, paragraph 6.7 of the position statement was slightly amended to align it with recent changes to privacy legislation that allow health practitioners to use or disclose patients' genetic information, whether or not they give consent, in circumstances where there is reasonable belief that doing so is necessary to lessen or prevent a serious threat to the life, health or safety of their genetic relatives.

In March 2009, the AMA adopted the World Medical Association's Declaration of Seoul on Professional Autonomy and Clinical Independence. The medical profession is committed to ensuring patients' interests come first.  This declaration advocates that doctors have the freedom to exercise their professional judgement in the care and treatment of their patients without undue influence by outside parties or individuals.

The AMA Code of Ethics articulates and promotes a body of ethical principles to guide doctors' conduct in their relationships with patients, colleagues and society. This Code has grown out of other similar ethical codes stretching back into history including the Hippocratic Oath.