International Update

WMA hears medical voice on climate change

It is vital that health is fully considered in current global debates and that physicians are provided with accurate information and awareness-raising tools to advocate action at a national level

The World Medical Association (WMA) hosted a seminar in Copenhagen in September to hear the medical profession’s voice on the consequences of climate change. Doctors’ leaders and climate change experts shared their views on the new global climate treaty, which will be considered in November to replace the Kyoto Accord.

They also highlighted the health impact of climate change and debated the role doctors could play in alerting the world to the increased risk of disease.

Dr Otmar Kloiber, secretary general of the WMA, said: “It is vital that health is fully considered in current global debates and that physicians are provided with accurate information and awareness-raising tools to advocate action at a national level.

“The WMA is preparing major new policy for physicians in areas such as advocacy, capacity building and collaboration. We hope to adopt this at our annual General Assembly in New Delhi in October so that it can be fed into the United Nations climate change conference being held in Copenhagen in December.” Read more

WMA reminds doctors of their ethical obligations in relation to torture

At its council meeting in Tel Aviv, the World Medical Association (WMA) reminded doctors of their ethical obligations in relation to torture and interrogation. Doctors were reminded that they were strongly prohibited from participating in or even being present during the practice of torture, or other forms of cruel, inhuman or degrading procedures.

The reminder follows a report that acknowledges unsettling practices by some health professionals, including direct participation in the infliction of ill treatment, monitoring specific methods of ill treatment and participation in interrogation processes.

Dr Edward Hill, chair of the WMA, said: “It is quite clear that any involvement by physicians in torture is fundamentally incompatible with their role as healers. It violates the essential ethical obligations on all physicians to ‘first do no harm’ and to respect human dignity. As the world’s largest association of physicians and the voice of the medical profession, the WMA will work to ensure that these core principles guide physicians worldwide.”

The resolution also urged national medical associations to inform doctors and governments about the Declaration of Hamburg and its contents, and urged them to speak out in support of the basic principles of medical ethics and investigate any breaches by their members. Read more

Guidelines needed for informing patients of medical errors

National guidelines are needed for timely disclosure of medical errors and informing patients, argue Canadian researchers. Writing in the Canadian Medical Association Journal, Dr Roger Chafe et al argue that while there are guidelines outlining how healthcare providers communicate medical errors to patients, few exist in Canada or other countries for disclosing errors affecting large numbers of patients.

They call for clear communications, an external analysis to identify cause and a review that focuses on actions to ensure quality of care rather than punishment. Read more

Neurosurgeons highest paid when qualified

US neurological surgeons who have just completed their training earn more than any newly-qualified doctors in their first year, according to a survey of doctors’ recruiters. Last year, neurological surgeons earned a median salary of US$445,000 in their first year after completing their residency or fellowship. Other specialties paying high salaries in their first year after residency or fellowship include invasive and interventional cardiology, haematology and oncology, maternal and foetal medicine, general or orthopaedic surgery and diagnostic and interventional radiology. Read more

Doctors urged to consult on EMA policy

Doctors have until the end of September to comment on the European Medicines Agency (EMA) draft transparency policy. The policy focuses on three main objectives to achieve absolute transparency:

• More transparency of daily operations – will lead to more proactive disclosure of information about the scientific evaluation of medicines and increased understanding of how the agency reaches scientific conclusions
• Strengthen the agency’s interaction with its stakeholders – more healthcare professionals will be consulted on the scientific evaluation of medicines in the agency’s scientific committees
• Promote a harmony and consistency across the European medicines network – the agency will be working closely with the medicines regulatory authorities across the EU.

The final adoption and publication of the policy will be at the end of 2009. Read more