What should I tell my students now the law contravenes medical ethics?

“I will respect the secrets that are confided in me, even after the patient has died.”1 “A physician shall not allow his/her judgment to be influenced by personal profit or unfair discrimination.”2 “A physician shall give emergency care when it is needed, regardless of his specialty or job.”3

These national and international codes enshrine ethical values that are fundamental to our profession. But some of my students think that doctors should sometimes discriminate among patients. These ideas relate to the students’ personal values or fears about state security, for instance. I remind them of our rules and why they matter: the patient-physician relationship depends on trust. I also tell them about basic human rights, which everyone should respect.

The Turkish president has recently signed new legislation stating, “With the exception of health services in emergency situations delivered …