Section 2 in Tamil Nadu Medical Council (Professional Conduct, Etiquette and Ethics) Regulations, 2003
2. Duties of Physicians to their Patients.
2.1.1. Though a physician is not bound to treat each and every person asking his services, he should not only be ever ready to respond to the calls of the sick and the injured, but should be mindful of the high character of his mission and the responsibility be discharges in the course of his professional duties. In his treatment, he should never forget that the health and the lives of those entrusted to his care depend on his skill and attention.A physician shall, while caring for a patient, regard responsibility to the patient as paramount.A physician should endeavour to add to the comfort to the sick by making his visits at the hour indicated to the patients. A physician advising a patient to seek service of another physician is acceptable, however, in case of emergency a physician must treat the patient.No physician shall arbitrarily refuse treatment to a patient. However, for good reason, when a patient is suffering from an ailment is not within the range of experience of the treating physician, the physician, may refuse treatment and refer the patient to another physician.2.1.2. Medical practitioner having any incapacity detrimental to the patient or which can affect his performance vis-a-vis the patient is not permitted to practise his profession.Patience, Delicacy and Secrecy2.2Patience and delicacy should characterize the physician. Confidence concerning individual or domestic life entrusted by patients to a physician and defects in the disposition or character of patients observed during medical attendance should never be revealed unless their revelation is required by the laws of the State. Sometimes, however, a physician must determine whether his duty to society requires him to employ knowledge, obtained through confidence as a physician, to protect a healthy person against a communicable disease to which he is about to be exposed. In such instance, the physician should act as he would wish another to act toward one of his own family in like circumstances.Prognosis2.3The physician should neither exaggerate nor minimize the gravity of a patients condition. He should ensure himself that the patient, his relatives or his responsible friends have such knowledge of the patients condition as well serve the best interests of the patient and the family.The Patient Must not be Neglected2.4A physician is free to choose whom he will serve. He should, however, respond to any request for his assistance in an emergency. Once having undertaking a case, the physician should not neglect the patient, nor should he withdraw from the case without giving adequate notice to the patient and his family. Provisionally or fully registered medical practitioners shall not willfully commit an act of negligence that may deprive his patient or patients from necessary medical care.Engagement for an Obstetric Case2.5When a physician who has been engaged to attend an obstetric case is absent and another is sent for and delivery accomplished, the acting physician is entitled to his professional fees, but should secure the patients consent to resign on the arrival of the physician engaged.
