The ICN Code of Ethics & The

Filipino Patients Bill of Rights

Filipino Patients Bill of Rights
1. The patient has the right to considerate & respectful
care, irrespective of socio-economic status.

2. The patient has the right to obtain from his physician

complete current information concerning his
diagnosis, treatment and prognosis in terms the
patient can reasonably be expected to understand.
When it is not medically advisable to give such
information to the patient. The information should be
made available to an appropriate person in his behalf.
He has the right to know by name or in person, the
medical team responsible in coordinating his care.
3. The patient has the right to receive from his physician
information necessary to give informed consent prior
to start of any procedure and or treatment. Except in
emergencies, such information for informed consent
should include but not necessarily limited to the
specific procedure and or treatment, the medically
significant risks involved, and the probable duration of
incapacitation. Where medically significant alternatives
for care or treatment exist, or when the patient
requests information concerning medical alternatives,
the patient has the right for such information. The
patient has also the right to know the name of the
person responsible for the procedure and/or
treatment.
4. The patient has the right to refuse treatment / life-
giving measures, to the extent permitted by law and
to be informed of the medical consequence of his
action.

5. The patient has the right to every consideration of his

privacy concerning his own medical care program.
Case discussion, consultation, examination and
treatment are confidential and should be conducted
discreetly. Those not directly involved in his care must
have the permission of the patient to be present.

6. The patient has the right to expect that all

communication and records pertaining to his care
should be treated as confidential.
7. The patient has the right that within its capacity, a
hospital must make reasonable response to the
request of patient for services. The hospital must
provide evaluation, service and or referral as
indicated by the urgency of care. When medically
permissible a patient may be transferred to another
facility only after he has received complete
information concerning the needs and alternatives to
such transfer. The institution to which the patient is
to be transferred must first have accepted the patient
for transfer.
8. The patient has the right to obtain information as to
any relationship of the hospital to other health care
and to other health care and educational institutions
in so far as his care is concerned. The patient has the
right to obtain as to the existence of any professional
relationship among individuals, by name who are
treating him.

9. The patient has the right to be advised if the hospital

proposes to engage on or perform human
experimentation affecting his care or treatment. The
patient has the right to refuse or participate in such
research projects.
10. The patient has the right to expect reasonable
continuity of care; he has the right to know in
advance what appointment times the physicians are
available and where. The patient has the right to
expect that the hospital will provide a mechanism
whereby he is informed by his physician or a delegate
of the physician of the patient's continuing health care
requirements following discharge.

11. The patient has the right to examine and receive an

explanation of his bill regardless of source of
payment.
12. The patient has the right to know what hospital
rules and regulations apply to his conduct as a
patient.
The ICN Code of Ethics for Nurses
An international code of ethics for nurses was first
adopted by the International Council of Nurses
(ICN) in 1953.
It has been revised and reaffirmed at various times
since, most recently with this review and revision
completed in 2012.
The ICN Code of Ethics for Nurses has four
principal elements that outline the standards of
ethical conduct.
1. Nurses and people
2. Nurses and practice
3. Nurses and the profession
4. Nurses and co-workers
PREAMBLE
Nurses have four fundamental responsibilities: to
promote health, to prevent illness, to restore health
and to alleviate suffering. The need for nursing is
universal.
Inherent in nursing is a respect for human rights,
including cultural rights, the right to life and choice,
to dignity and to be treated with respect. Nursing
care is respectful of and unrestricted by
considerations of age, colour, creed, culture, disability
or illness, gender, sexual orientation, nationality,
politics, race or social status.
Nurses render health services to the individual, the
family and the community and coordinate their
services with those of related groups.
ELEMENTS OF THE CODE
1. Nurses and people
The nurses primary professional responsibility is to
people requiring nursing care.
In providing care, the nurse promotes an
environment in which the human rights, values,
customs and spiritual beliefs of the individual, family
and community are respected.
The nurse ensures that the individual receives
accurate, sufficient and timely information in a
culturally appropriate manner on which to base
consent for care and related treatment.
The nurse holds in confidence personal information
and uses judgment in sharing this information.
 The nurse shares with society the responsibility for
initiating and supporting action to meet the health
and social needs of the public, in particular those of
vulnerable populations.
The nurse advocates for equity and social justice in
resource allocation, access to health care and other
social and economic services.
The nurse demonstrates professional values such as
respectfulness, responsiveness, compassion,
trustworthiness and integrity.
2. Nurses and practice
The nurse carries personal responsibility and
accountability
for nursing practice, and for maintaining competence
by continual learning.
The nurse maintains a standard of personal health
such that the ability to provide care is not
compromised.
The nurse uses judgement regarding individual
competence when accepting and delegating
responsibility.
The nurse at all times maintains standards of personal
conduct which reflect well on the profession and
enhance its image and public confidence.
 The nurse, in providing care, ensures that use of
technology and scientific advances are compatible
with the safety, dignity and rights of people.
The nurse strives to foster and maintain a practice
culture promoting ethical behavior and open
dialogue.
3. Nurses and the profession
The nurse assumes the major role in determining
and implementing acceptable standards of clinical
nursing practice, management, research and
education.
The nurse is active in developing a core of research-
based professional knowledge that supports
evidence-based practice.
The nurse is active in developing and sustaining a
core of professional values.
The nurse, acting through the professional
organization, participates in creating a positive
practice environment and maintaining safe, equitable
social and economic working conditions in nursing.
 The nurse practices to sustain and protect the
natural environment and is aware of its
consequences on health.
The nurse contributes to an ethical organisational
environment and challenges unethical practices and
settings.
4. Nurses and co-workers
The nurse sustains a collaborative and respectful
relationship with co-workers in nursing and other
fields.
The nurse takes appropriate action to safeguard
individuals, families and communities when their
health is endangered by a co-worker or any other
person.
The nurse takes appropriate action to support and
guide co-workers to advance ethical conduct.