Slapdash remedies
Kathimerini has already expressed its fundamental reservations regarding the effectiveness of the new code of ethics for doctors recently heralded in by the Health Ministry. The ailments of the system are the result either of illegal activities or political choices. The former do not need yet another law banning them, and the latter have nothing to do with the law. So, it appears that the fate of public health is dependent on practice rather than on any legal restrictions that could be imposed. It is interesting to note that doctors have been asked to offer any comments regarding the proposed code of ethics by the end of month. But why such haste, and in the middle of summer? This question becomes particularly pressing when we bear in mind that the debate goes beyond the much-discussed problem of under-the-table payments and embraces extremely serious issues – such as the practice of euthanasia and cloning – which are linked to contemporary ethics and modern thinking but which have been discussed very little in Greek public life. And so it is that doctors have been asked to take a stance on euthanasia within the next two weeks, so we can once again avoid establishing a legal framework for a very important issue…
