The WMA has a duty to safeguard the basic principles of medical practice and defence of the freedom of the medical profession. In consequence it cannot be expected to produce valued judgement on the different systems, but has an overwhelming duty to decide as far as it is possible, upon what terms the medical profession can collaborate with State Health Services. The conditions of medical practice in any system of health care shall be determined in consultation with the representatives of organizations of physicians. Any health care system should allow the patient to consult the physician of his choice, and the physician to treat only patients of his choice, without the rights of either being affected in any way. The principle of free choice also should be applied in cases where medical treatment or a part of it is provided in treatment centers.
Physicians have a compelling professional and ethical duty to attend to a patient in an emergency.
The physician should be free to practice his profession where he wishes and also to limit his practice to a given specialty in which he is qualified. The medical needs of the country concerned should be satisfied and the profession, wherever possible, should seek to orient young physicians toward the areas where they are most needed. In cases where these areas are less favorable than others, physicians who go there should be aided by appropriate incentives so that their equipment is satisfactory and their standard of living is in accordance with their professional responsibilities. The profession should be adequately represented on all official bodies dealing with problems concerning health or disease. The confidential nature of the physician-patient relationship must be recognized and must be observed by all those who collaborate at any stage of the patient's treatment or in the control thereof.