Clí­nica Universidad de Navarra

The Ethics and Medical Deontology Committee of the Clínica Universitaria de Navarra

I. Introduction

1. The essential and inseparable elements of the work at the Clínica Universitaria de  Navarra are the patient service, the respect of their dignity and the quality of health care demanded by its university nature. In accordance with the Ideology of the University of Navarra, those that work in the Clínica have to act in accordance with the rules of professional ethics, conforming to the moral teachings of the Catholic Church.  

2. All those that work in the Clínica must know and undertake to comply with the regulations of this Code of Ethics, which they freely and responsibly make their own.

II. Sense of vocation and professionalism at work

3. The vocational nature of the work in the Clínica Universitaria demands professional improvement through continued study along with a respect for the code of ethics and deontology of the profession. 4. In accordance with the teachings of San Josemaría Escrivá, first Great Chancellor of the University, in the Clínica Universitaria there are no menial duties. The work as a whole gives meaning to the various functions, and it demands professional standards from everyone, that improves and dignifies the person. 5. The government’s duties have to be understood as an occasion of service and should serve as an example, and the appearance of authoritarianism or bias should be avoided.  The government is consulted at each level of decision making. 6. Cordiality, mutual respect and loyalty should be characteristics of the personal and profession relationships of those that work in the Clínica Universitaria.  We promote equal opportunities, legitimate pluralism and the initiative and active participation of everyone in the internal management, and we recognize the right to associate for collective ends, without damaging the common good. 7. Disagreements about scientific, professional, ethical or official matters will be dealt with respect, maturity and cordiality.  Conflicts will be resolved with the help of a mediator, designated by the Board of Management, whose moral authority will be recognised by those implicated; or by requesting the judgement of the Ethics and Deontology Committee; or else raising the matter with the Board of Management.8. Teamwork is a characteristic feature of the institutional style of the Clínica Universitaria and everyone should be available to participate in committees or work groups, in the manner permitted by their contracts. 9. The professional nature of the Clínica demands the putting in place of the appropriate means so that diagnosis of each patient can be determined with minimum risk, as quickly as possible, with the least expense and in the safest conditions for the patient.  To achieve this, medical professionals have to respond immediately to the advice of their colleagues.  

 
III. Patient service

10. All the Clínica Universitaria activities- healthcare, research, etc.- should rigorously respect the life of other people from the start of existence at fertilization, until its natural end, in accordance with the Catholic morals in relation to the aspects related to human sexuality and procreation. 11. The inspiring work principle at the Clínica Universitaria is to respect the dignity and the freedom of the human being, created in the image of God and destined for eternal life, without discrimination. For this reason, everyone should consider the circumstances of each case and maintain a personal relationship with the patient, which aims to satisfy their legitimate human and religious aspirations. 12. The patient has the right to receive sufficient information from the medical and nursing staff, and to decide what has to be relayed to their relations and close relatives. This right corresponds to the parents of minors, although children and adolescents are also informed in a way that their maturity allows. 13. In the patient-doctor relationship, the confidentiality demanded by professional secrecy has to be honoured. Everyone is obliged to strictly maintain the working silence and to observe the security measures regarding the custody, access and circulation of the clinical histories and personal data. 14. The patient has the right to receive kind and attentive treatment; to the careful protection of their personal and physical privacy, especially during the course of examinations or when they are unable to take care of themselves; and to detailed information regarding the cost of the medical care, which aims to avoid wasteful expenses or unnecessary interventions. 15. We should respect the freedom of the patient to reject or suggest modifications in the diagnostic or therapeutic interventions which are proposed, as long as they are compatible with the medical ethics and each person’s demands for personal dignity.16. The treatments in the field of psychiatry and neurology will respond to the principles of Christian anthropology.17. When the services of several medical staff are needed to improve the patient’s healthcare, one of the doctors takes the responsibility of coordinating the healthcare and of representing the team before the patient.18. Terminally-ill patients will be offered the palliative treatment that best contributes to alleviating their suffering and maintain their dignity, without resorting to wasteful, disproportionate or aggressive treatments, that can only lead to a precarious and upsetting prolongation of life. They will also be offered the appropriate spiritual care, if they so wish.19. Professional ethics obliges the recognition of accidents or errors which may occur, the study of their causes and putting the appropriate measures in place to avoid their repetition. On occasion, these objectives will not be reached without the collaboration of the patients and their close relatives, with whom the matter will be dealt with simply and sincerely, after offering them the appropriate apologies.20. The patients, their close relatives and those who work in the Clínica may request the Clínica Ethics and Deontology Committee's judgement in relation to the problems they have.

IV. University nature of the institution

21. Research is an essential requirement of all Medical University Institutions. The Clínica Universitaria offers its patients a quality medical service, which incorporates the most recent advances in the science and art of medicine, after they have been thoroughly checked and assessed by a medical team and by the Ethics and Deontology Committee. The incorporation of new techniques is done insofar as this gives reasonable guarantees of clinical efficacy, excludes disproportionate risks and respects human dignity. 22. The previous approval of the Clínica Universitaria's Board of Directors is required, with the favourable approval of the Ethics and Medical Deontology Committee or the   Research Ethics Committee, in order to establish innovative therapies and new research, whether or not they are therapeutical. 23. The Departments and Services of the Clínica Universitaria continuously evaluate the procedures to improve their performances and, after sufficient critical reflection, consider whether they should incorporate new instruments or diagnostic techniques. 24. The university nature of the Clínica demands teaching attention to doctors in training and students of Medicine, Nursing and other health care professions.  Their presence stimulates the human quality and the technical competence of the work carried out in the Clínica. 25. The patient has the right to freely decide whether they wish to collaborate with the teaching or not, and to determine the nature and duration of their collaboration.  It is obligatory to request the consent of the patient or his/her family on each occasion, and the teachers and the students will clearly show their appreciation, whatever the case.  26. Research projects on human beings will abide by the legal rules and the contractual obligations or written agreements in each case.  They will only be started once they have been authorised by the Board of Management at the Clínica Universitaria, with the consent of the Research Ethics Committee which, as well as insuring the scientific quality of the studies, also have to watch over the safety and dignity of the subjects that participate in them.  Before being included in a research project, the patients will give their consent, after being properly informed. 27. The university vocation of those that work in the University requires them to share their findings without reserve and recognise the undisputable value in the observations of others. That they have a friendly and cordial working relationship with all their colleagues, whether or not they are part of the teaching staff at the University of Navarra.

20 June 2003