:: Iraq Launches the Code of Ethics of the Nursing Profession

Bagdad 18 October 2009 - the Iraqi Nursing Association in cooperation with WHO launch the Code of Ethics of the Nursing and Midwifery profession in Iraq to act as the Basis of medical services and the cornerstone of nursing profession ethics in Iraq.

The said code is an obligatory constitution committing all those practicing the nursing profession to abide to the Iraqi behaviors, values and ideologies. The Code includes an interpretation of the main principles of the nursing profession, definition of some terms related to the said profession, steps to solve the ethical dilemma, patients? rights in the holy books, the rights of the beneficiary and nurses according to the global constitutions and some desirable attributes.

In this respect, the Iraqi Minister of Health Dr Saleh El Hasnawi said that ?The Code of ethics of the nursing profession shall improve medical services provided by this important sector and will guarantee the attainment of the Iraqi individuals, families and communities of their basic rights in health and dignity?.

This manual was prepared by a team of experts encompassing representatives from the health and environment committee in the parliament, Ministry of Health, judiciaries, nursing association, civil societies, academic and international experts. The team depended on the Nursing profession Ethics as stated in the manuals of the International Council of Nurses, Bahrain, Oman, Jordan and other countries of the Eastern Mediterranean region, and the American Nurses Association. It was prepared under the supervision of WHO experts.

The manager of the Nursing Department in the Iraqi Ministry of Health and the representative of Iraqi nurses Dr Amin Ageil El Yassri said that this code will be available to all nurses namely, 30,000 ones in Iraq.

It will be disseminated to all academic and health institutions in Iraq to translate it into action and improve nursing practices.

This code gives much importance to ethics based on the established values and customs same as scientific knowledge and practices Nursing is a human action that can be learnt by any one however, it can not be mastered without ethics.

The charge d’affairs, resident coordinator and representative of WHO Dr Naema El Kassir said “the code of ethics is related to the individual responsibility and accountability and its application, guarantee high quality of health care which can boost an integrated healthy society”.

 

Code of ethics for nurses and midwives in Iraq [832 kb]