Surgical Handicraft: Manual for Surgical Residents & Surgeons R Dayananda Babu
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Model Conduct for House Surgeons/ResidentsChapter 1

R Dayananda Babu
 
CODE OF CONDUCT
  1. Character of the physician:
    “An upright man, instructed in the art of healing,
    Pure in character and diligent in caring for the sick,
    He should be modest, sober, patient, prompt to do his whole duty without anxiety,
    Pious without going so far as superstition.”
  2. Physician's responsibility:
    The objective of the medical profession is to render service to humanity with full respect for the dignity of man.
  3. Develop the affective domain (heart):
    “Medicine is an art, not trade.
    A calling, not business,
    A calling in which your heart will be equally used as your head”
    —William Osler
    “It is with heart one sees rightly,
    what is essential is invisible to the eye”
    “Where there is a love for humanity, there is love for the art of medicine”
    —Hippocrates
    “To cure occasionally,
    To relieve sometimes and
    To comfort always”
    —Louis Pasteur
  4. Develop soft skills:
    • Communication (Communicate to the patient and bystanders)
    • Empathy: Experiencing the feelings and thoughts of another person
    • Humility: State of being humble
  5. Success will depend upon your attitude:
    • Attitude will decide the altitude.
    • “The greatest discovery of my generation is that human beings can alter their lives by altering their attitudes of mind.”—William James (Harvard University).2
  6. Reliability and punctuality are the two most important qualities of a successful doctor.
  7. Dress code:
    • A clean white coat always looks professional
    • Dirty, polo–necked sweaters are not acceptable
  8. Be well equipped:
    • Carry a spiral diary to note down the work, rather than rely on memory
    • Carry stethoscope, pen torch, knee hammer, measuring tape, etc.
  9. Never display the arrogance of office: Arrogance is a sign of ignorance and immaturity.
    There is no role for high handed behavior inside the hospital.
  10. Never make comments like “This patient should have been sent to hospital much earlier”.
  11. Primum non nocere (primarily do no harm): In any real doubt or difficulty, consult the senior doctor. Know your limitations.
  12. A doctor should not run except in dire emergency, such as cardiac arrest or total respiratory obstruction.
  13. Get along well with seniors, nurses, paramedical staff, technicians and subordinates. The intelligent resident can learn a lot from the nursing staff.
  14. Give due respect to senior doctors and doctors coming from other institutions.
  15. Be an active listener: Active listening encourages the patients to tell his or her story of the illness.
  16. Know how to break bad news (Read tips for house surgeons).
  17. Avoid social evils like smoking, alcohol and drugs:- Doctor must be a role model for the community.
  18. Always look confident.