Core Operations

Ethics

Health professionals registered with the Health Professions Council of South Africa (HPCSA) have rights and privileges to practise health professions. Correspondingly, health practitioners have moral or ethical duties to others and to the society. These duties are generally in keeping with the principles of the South African Constitution, 1996 (Act No. 108 of 1996) and the obligations imposed on health practitioners by other laws.

 

Ethics, Human Rights and Health Law is an understanding of the bioethical principles that determine how health practitioners perform research and interact with patients/clients and society as described in Chapter 1 and 2 of the Constitution of South Africa, 1996 (Act No. 108 of 1996). Health care delivery is a constantly advancing sector and with these advances, conflicts often arise within the arenas of politics, law, religion, philosophy, and economics. An understanding of bioethics helps health practitioners to recognise, admit and sometimes resolve these conflicts.

 

 

Booklet 1: General ethical guidelines for health care professions	View document
Booklet 3: National Patients' Rights Charter	View document
Booklet 4: Seeking patients ‘informed consent: The ethical considerations	View document
Booklet 5: Confidentiality:  Protecting and providing information	View document
Booklet 6: Guidelines for the management of patients with HIV infections or AIDS	View document
Booklet 7: Guidelines withholding and withdrawing treatment	View document
Booklet 8: Guidelines on Reproductive Health management	info coming soon
Booklet 9: Guidelines on Patient Records	View document
Booklet 10: Guidelines for the practice of Telehealth	View document
Booklet 11: Guidelines on over servicing, perverse incentives and related matters	View document
Booklet 12: Guidelines for the management of health care waste	View document
Booklet 13: General ethical guidelines for health researchers	View document
Booklet 14: Ethical Guidelines for Biotechnology Research in South Africa	View document
Booklet 15: Research, development and the use of the chemical, biological and nuclear weapons	View document
Booklet 16: Ethical Guidelines on Social Media	View document
Booklet 17: Ethical Guidelines on Palliative Care	View document
Ethical Rulings	View document

• Unauthorised advertising
• Over-servicing of patients
• Criminal convictions
• Improper relationships with patients
• Improper conduct of practitioners
• Operational procedure without the patient's permission or consent
• Disclosure of information in regard to a patient without his / her permission
• Incompetence in regard to treatment of patients
• Excessive fees charged/overcharging
• Insufficient care towards patients
• Racial discrimination
• Rude behaviour towards patients
• Prescriptions to already addicted patients
• Perverse incentives and kickbacks