Background

Professionals belonging to a group are guided by specific standards of practice which govern their behaviour. These standards are traditionally termed the ‘code of conduct’. There have been many changes in how health professionals communicate and interact with their patients and in light of this, the Code of Ethics prepared by the Medical Board of Trinidad and Tobago for physicians and medical students has been revised to make the Code relevant to the ethical practice of medicine in the 21st century. Underpinning this guidance is the four principles of biomedical ethics, which include autonomy, beneficence, non-maleficence and justice.