Professor's 10 commandments for patients
Dec 9 2008 by Neil Mckay, The Journal
A LEADING North East academic has urged people to take more responsibility for their own health if they want to enjoy access to free NHS healthcare.
Professor Martyn Evans, of Durham University’s School of Medicine and Health, argues patients should comply with “10 moral duties”, which require them to look after themselves and others, and use the NHS responsibly. People who neglected their health and the health of others around them, or who misused the care available to them, were draining the NHS of scarce resources, he said.
Prof Evans, who has published an academic paper on patient duties, suggests individual patients should co-operate more fully with medical advice and treatment, be courteous to NHS staff and follow health promotion guidelines. He said: “Behaviour such as binge drinking and missing GP appointments is on the increase. There is clearly a need to state more clearly the responsibilities patients have to secure the future of the free public healthcare system.
“Right now, far too many people suppose that only doctors have duties, and that only patients have rights.”
Prof Evans said he believed his 10 moral duties would make the system work effectively, could speed recovery and would increase availability of resources for other patients. Recognising them would contribute to a “culture shift” in people’s expectations of the NHS.
Prof Evans said the change in attitudes to recycling and the wholesale compliance with smoking restrictions showed attitudes could change.
He recommends patients promote their health, use care in a responsible and truthful way and in certain circumstances, take part in research.
