Professional ethics standards for healthcare workers in Vietnam

How will a Party member violating professional ethics standards in healthcare be handled in Vietnam? (Image from the Internet)

1. Professional ethics standards for healthcare workers in Vietnam

According to the Ethics Regulation issued with Decision 2088/BYT-QD on November 6, 1996, the professional ethics standards for healthcare workers in Vietnam are as follows:

- Caring for the health of everyone is a noble profession. When voluntarily joining the healthcare ranks, one must seriously follow President Ho Chi Minh's teachings. One must have high conscience and responsibility, wholeheartedly love the profession, always practice enhancing the ethical qualities of a physician. Continuously study and actively research science to improve professional skills. Be ready to overcome all difficulties and hardships for the cause of the people's healthcare and protection.

- Respect the law and strictly implement professional regulations. Do not use patients for experimental methods of diagnosis, treatment, or scientific research without the Ministry of Health's permission and the patient's consent.

- Respect the public's right to medical examination and treatment. Respect the privacy of patients; ensure discretion and politeness when examining and caring for patients. Care for those under social policy preferential treatment. Do not discriminate against patients. Do not have a patronizing attitude, abuse the profession, or cause inconvenience to patients. Be honest in charging fees for medical examination and treatment.

- When interacting with patients and their families, always be cheerful and dedicated; wear neat and clean attire to build patient trust. Explain the patient's condition to them and their families for cooperative treatment; inform them about policies, benefits, and obligations of patients; encourage and comfort patients to adhere to treatment and rehabilitation for quick recovery. In severe or poor prognosis cases, strive to treat and care to the end, while informing the patient's family.

- In emergencies, promptly diagnose and treat without delaying the patient.

- Prescriptions must align with diagnoses ensuring reasonable and safe medication use; do not supply patients with poor-quality drugs, incorrect medications, or overprescribe for self-interest.

- Do not leave the position during the duty; promptly monitor and treat patient developments.

- When patients are discharged, provide thorough instructions for ongoing treatment, self-care, and health maintenance.

- Upon a patient's death, express deep sympathy, condolences, and assist the family with necessary procedures.

- Be honest, united, respect colleagues, honor seniors, readily share knowledge, learn from experiences, and support each other.

- Admit faults and take responsibility for oneself, do not blame colleagues or preceding levels.

- Actively participate in health education, disease prevention, and treatment for accident and illness victims in the community; exemplify a hygienic lifestyle and preserve the clean environment.

2. Expulsion of Party Members Violating Professional Ethics Standards in Healthcare in Vietnam

Article 43 Regulation 69-QD/TW on July 6, 2022, prescribes handling violations by Party Members in healthcare as follows:

- Party Members who violate the following cases causing minor consequences shall be disciplined with a reprimand:

+ Violating regulations and professional codes of the healthcare field.

+ Dishonestly declaring and charging for medical examination and treatment services.

+ Discriminating against patients, abusing the profession to harass and inconvenience patients; refusing to examine and treat patients.

+ Selling or providing patients with poor-quality, expired medications; prescribing drugs incorrectly for the illness.

+ Prescribing and directing patients to buy drugs from designated pharmacies or suggesting patients visit healthcare facilities related to themselves for unlawful commissions.

+ Improperly performing joint ventures, capital contributions, or investments in healthcare infrastructure and equipment.

+ Certifying or evaluating individuals' health status inaccurately.

- In case of repeated violations after being disciplined as per Clause 1, Article 43 Regulation 69-QD/TW on July 6, 2022, or causing serious consequences in the first violation, or in any of the following instances, discipline by reprimand or dismissal (if holding a position):

+ Inflating service, material, or medical technique prices for profit.

+ Using patients for research and experiments without authorization from competent health authorities and patient consent.

+ Indifferently, insensibly neglecting reception, emergency care, or treatment, leading to severe patient consequences.

+ Failing to ensure safe and proper medication use or storage.

+ Manufacturing, trading, licensing, or permitting the importation of medical equipment and medications without quality assurance, expired, or unauthorized for circulation and use in Vietnam.

+ Having faults but not accepting responsibility, blaming organizations or individuals.

+ Neglectful in medical examination and treatment; requiring patients to visit private clinics established by themselves or involving them to gain profit.

+ Violating professional and technical regulations in medical examination and treatment causing severe harm to patients.

+ Improperly conducting bidding, procurement, and equipment purchase, including medical materials and medications, additives, or supplements.

- For violations prescribed in Clauses 1 and 2 of Article 43 Regulation 69-QD/TW on July 6, 2022, causing very serious consequences or in any of the following instances, discipline by expulsion:

+ Abandoning the duty station without monitoring and promptly addressing patient developments, leading to death.

+ Neglectful in prompt emergency care, diagnosis, resulting in patient death.

+ Setting conditions for excessive material rewards or extorting significant money or gifts from patients or their families during medical examination or treatment.

+ Altering or tampering with medical records to evade responsibility; exploiting the medical process for health insurance fraud.

+ Neglectful in directing, implementing disease prevention measures leading to disease spread.

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