Chapter 12. Medical And Other Health Professionals: Working With The Right To Health

Abstract

This chapter looks at the role of health professionals, and particularly of medical practitioners, in promoting the right to health through the arrangements that have been made for determining their competence to practice, and for regulating their conduct towards their patients and others with whom they come into contact in the course of their professional work. The main distinction between health professionals and other health workers, therefore, is one of accountability. Most national medical associations (NMAs) have ethical committees that issue guidance to their members on medical ethics. In the Resource Manual the contribution of health professionals to the right to health has been considered in the light of existing laws, human rights treaties and ethical principles.Keywords: health professionals; medical practitioners; national medical associations (NMAs)