The Code of Professional Ethics of the Russian Society of Psychiatrists: Text and Commentary
Since ancient times and until now professional ethics has been an essential part of medicine. Professionalism in medicine has always meant a combination of special knowledge and the art of healing with high ethical standards. The role of ethics is especially important in the professional activities of a psychiatrist, owing to the delicate nature of the therapist-patient relationship and the unique nature of the moral problems encountered. As psychiatry has at its disposal means of affecting the human mind, it is an object of intense scrutiny by society. Though a psychiatrist, like any other physician, should be guided in his activity by compassion, kindness, and charity, it is necessary to draw up a documentary version of generally accepted rules of professional psychiatric ethics. This code is based on humanistic traditions of Russian psychiatry as well as on fundamental principles of human rights and freedoms. It was developed in accordance with ethical standards acknowledged by the international professional community. The purpose of the Code is to highlight moral perspectives, to provide psychiatrists with a "key" to making decisions in situations that present difficult problems from ethical, legal, and medical points of view; to minimize the risk of making mistakes; and to protect psychiatrists from possible unlawful demands. The Code is also to contribute to consolidation of the professional psychiatric community of Russia.