Before the Second World War, the international association of medical professionals existed in the world. But because its activities are suspended by the war, following it the World Medical Association arises as the International Confederation of doctors whose origin is established in 1947, bringing together 112 medical associations and more than 10 million professionals.
Now, this association was established as an open forum and its members communicate, cooperate actively and freely with a mission to serve humanity by achieving the highest possible level in medical education, medical science, medical ethics, and medical care. for all the people of the world.
But, in turn, it mainly promotes the freedom of the doctor for the care and protection of his patients, improving their quality of life and not allowing third parties outside the profession to intervene in his decision.
In this sense, in 1946, a study committee was appointed to prepare an “Ethical Charter of Medicine”, which should be adopted as an oath or promise for all doctors in the world upon receiving their degree and practicing their profession. This is a modernized version of the ancient Hippocratic oath.
Thus, the Association -which has a close relationship with the United Nations and its various agencies- is constantly informed regarding violations of medical ethics, unethical human experimentation, among other problems in the field of ethics and doctors’ rights.
On the other hand, before the appearance of the Social Security Institute, Colombians had medical professionals with high medical ethics. We went before them with confidence and obtained a reliable diagnosis and proper prescription that we acquired with our own resources. Then with the emergence of Law 100 of 1993 as a comprehensive social security system, our health system evolves with the EPS and IPS to a deterioration to the point that doctors forget their Hippocratic oath serving the economy with devotion of these healthcare providers.
It is worth remembering that in Colombia doctors were allowed to lose their way and that they allowed the undue and inappropriate influence of external people such as the directors of the EPS to their freedom to freely express their professional opinion regarding their sick patient.
For this reason I have always had the impression that it seems that for the current health system we are cheaper dead than sick demanding tests, specialists and medicines.
Our congressmen realize the debacle due to the collapsing of doctors with the EPS and bring us Law 1751 of 2015 as a Statutory Health Law with different benefits for users, emerging that health for Colombians is a fundamental right and that No one can be denied access to the health service.
The norm guarantees that professionals -finally- can make decisions regarding the diagnosis and treatment of patients, and prohibits any constraint, pressure or restriction of professional practice that threatens the autonomy of health professionals, as well as any abuse in professional practice that violates patient safety.
Although the financial sustainability of the health system is the task of the rulers, doctors should not intervene or interfere in these concerns, they are only there to save lives above any financial mathematics.
In short, it is important that doctors know that we know that they have mishandled themselves, that they are part of this debacle that the health system is in today and that the time has come for them to make amends to Colombians, even if it is because of a law that remember your oath.
To conclude, if the World Medical Association has always established that the autonomy and independence of doctors are essential to provide high-quality care for the benefit of patients, why in Colombia have doctors accepted EPS intervention to care for a patient? in 15 minutes and only prescribe Acetaminophen and ibuprofen?
LUIS HERNAN TABARES AGUDELO
