Professionalism and human rights

As members of the medical profession, physicians are entrusted with promoting not only the good health of their patients but also of society as a whole. In its Declaration of Professional Responsibility, the American Medical Association asks physicians to commit to "...respect human life and the dignity of every individual; ...refrain from supporting or committing crimes against humanity and condemn all such acts; and [to] ...advocate for social, economic, educational, and political changes that ameliorate suffering and contribute to human well-being." These responsibilities confer on physicians an active obligation to respect and advocate for the human rights of their patients and society, as a means to promoting good health.

For more information on physician professionalism, medical ethics, and human rights*:

World Medical Association: Norwegian Medical Association
Web based course for doctors working in prisons

American Medical Association
AMA - United States Holocaust Memorial Museum educational outreach collaborative

American Association for the Advancement of Science
Human rights action network

American College of Physicians
Center for ethics and professionalism

American Medical Association
Declaration of professional responsibility

American Medical Student Association
Health and human rights

American Public Health Association
Health and human rights

Global Lawyers and Physicians for Human Rights
Working together for human rights

Harvard School of Public Health
François-Xavier Bagnoud Center for Health and Human Rights

Johns Hopkins University
Health and human rights group

World Health Organization
Health and human rights

*(The listing of an organization on this Web page does not constitute endorsement by the American Medical Association.)