Ethical Code and Ethical Guidelines and Handbook on Medical Ethics

The Singapore Medical Council (SMC) Ethical Code and Ethical Guidelines (ECEG) were last revised in 2002. Since then, medical practice in Singapore has evolved to become more complex, with advanced technology, innovative communication means, new modalities of treatment, a wide range of organisational as well as business models in medicine and changing expectations of the community we serve. To better address and to enable practitioners to navigate the ethical issues encountered in modern medical practice, the SMC has revised and updated the ECEG and the revised ECEG is now referred to as the 2016 edition of the SMC ECEG (2016 ECEG).

The 2016 ECEG is accompanied by an educational resource that is called the SMC Handbook on Medical Ethics (2016 HME). This 2016 HME contains additional material that elaborates on the 2016 ECEG, explains its application and provides advice on the best practices. You are encouraged to read the 2016 HME to know more about medical ethics.

The 2016 ECEG has come into force on 1 January 2017 (except for Guideline H3(7) which will only come into force on 1 July 2017).

Click on the hyperlinks to download the following documents:

• SMC Ethical Code and Ethical Guidelines (2002 edition) [PDF, 94 KB]

• SMC Ethical Code and Ethical Guidelines (2016 edition) (comes into force on 1 January 2017) [PDF, 1.5 MB]

• SMC Handbook on Medical Ethics (2016 edition) [PDF, 2.4 MB]

• Letter by SMC President and Chairman of the Working Committee dated 13 September 2016 [PDF, 265 KB]

• Explanatory Notes on the principles of the 2016 ECEG [PDF, 418 KB]

• SMC Press Release dated 14 September 2016 [PDF, 262 KB]

• SMC's Advisory to Medical Practitioners on payment of fees to Managed Care Companies, Third Party Administrators, Insurance Entities or Patient Referral Services dated 13 December 2016 [PDF, 274 KB]

• Summary of Questions and Answers at the Medical Ethics Seminars [PDF, 95 KB]

• SMC’s Second Advisory on the payment of fees to Managed Care Companies, Third Party Administrators, Insurance Entities or Patient Referral Services [PDF, 226 KB]