Don’t prescribe without examining the patient, even if he is a close friend or relative (Telephone advice is an exception).Never examine a female patient without presence of female nurse/ attendant, especially during genital and breast examinations.

Don’t insist on the patient to tell the history of illness or be examined in presence of others. He has right to privacy and confidentiality.Do not permit considerations of religion, nationality, race, party, politics or social standing to intervene between you and your patient.

It may not be reasonable for a doctor to assume what the patient is saying is truthful where what the patient/ attendant says is clearly contradicted by the symptoms.

Don’t smoke while examining a patient.Don’t examine a patient when you are sick, exhausted, or under influence of alcohol or any intoxicated substance.Don’t be overconfident. Don’t look overconfident.Don’t’ prescribe a drug or indulge in a procedure of you cannot justify its indication.Don’t prescribe a drug or indulge in a procedure of you cannot justify its indication.Don’t prescribe/ administer a drug which is banned, e.g. Analgin.Don’t over-prescribe/ administer: too much of the drug, too large a dose, for too long.Don’t under-prescribe: not prescribing the needed drug, dose is too small, length of treatment is too short.Don’t prescribe multiple drugs. Such prescription may be due to inability to form a correct diagnosis or other causes. Possibilities of drug interactions increase with polypharmacy.Don’t write instructions on a separate slip. Don’t allow substitutions.Don’t adopt experimental method in treatment. If there is some rationale do it only after informed consent.Don’t do anything beyond your level of competence. Competence is defined by your qualification, training and experience.Don’t give a drug parenterally if it can be given orally. There may be some exceptions.When you are not sure what and why to do. Consult your senior/ specialist/ colleague.

Don’t refuse if the patient/ attendants want to leave against medical advice. It is their right. Document this properly.Never avoid a cal for help from a nurse on duty at night. In all probability a genuine emergency may be there.

Never order an investigation unless the result is likely to help you direct the treatment or make a difference in what you tell a patient.

Don’t allow modern diagnostics tests to substitute your clinical judgment. At best, they can only supplement t. Always analyze the cost-benefit ratio before rushing to get these tests done. In case a particular test had high false positive or false negative results, explain this to the patient before getting it done.Never label any condition as “functional” until you are as certain as possible of the accuracy.Don’t withhold information, however, harsh and difficult, in seriously/ terminally ill patients. It must be conveyed with compassion and gradually, if time permits. The doctors and especially their assistants must train in the art of sensitive communication. It would be wise to take into confidence the family members, close relatives and friends, this would often make the acceptance easier and quicker.Don’t leave at the moment of death. There is a tendency especially on the part of senior doctors to go away at this time when his presence and experience are most needed.Don’t hesitate to extend your condolences and sympathies to the bereaved persons.Don’t forget to provide genetic counseling to couples and parents with known family history/ children having genetic abnormalities, e.g., Thalassemia, Hemophilia, etc.Don’t issue death certificates unless you have yourself verified it.Don’t divulge secrets you come to know during discharge of your professional duties. There are five exceptions to this general principle;

1. if the patient gives consent;
2. when it is undesirable on medical grounds to seek a patient’s consent;
3. the information is required by due legal process;
4. for the purposes of medical research, after obtaining permission from competent authority.

Don’t deny medical care to a patient with HIV infection/ AIDS. Observe all necessary precautions.

Don’t inform that the person is infected with HIV unless confirmatory test results are received.Don’t give untrue, misleading or improper reports, documents, etc.

Don’t refuse the patient’s right to examine and receive an explanation about your bill regardless of the source of payment; whether or not it is reimbursed by the government or by his employer/ insurance company.

Don’t refuse the patient’s right to know about the hospital rules and regulations. Never talk loose of your colleagues, despite intense professional rivalry. Never criticise4 your brother in profession. The patient/ attendants may incite you to say/ do something. They may seek your comments on the other doctor’s treatment. There is always a polite way to set aside their comments and queries. Remember if you ha seen the case from the start you would have done the same. If your colleague has made an error of judgment regarding diagnosis or treatment, you never know under what circumstances this happened.