Adhering to the HPCSA ethical guidelines is crucial for ensuring professionalism, integrity, and patient trust in the healthcare system. These guidelines provide a framework for ethical decision-making, helping practitioners navigate complex clinical situations while prioritising patient safety, rights, and well-being.
The HPCSA has recently updated the Guidelines on Over-servicing, Perverse Incentives and Related Matters (Booklet 11) and Guidelines on Social Media (Booklet 16).
Practitioners are advised to acquaint themselves with the newly updated ethical guidelines. By following these standards, healthcare professionals not only safeguard the public but also uphold the credibility and accountability of their profession.
Ethical Rules of Conduct
Ethical rules of conduct for registered health practitioners – click here
List of Ethical Guidelines
- Booklet 1: General ethical guidelines for health care professions
- Booklet 3: National Patients’ Rights Charter
- Booklet 4: Seeking patients ‘informed consent: The ethical considerations
- Booklet 5: Confidentiality: Protecting and providing information
- Booklet 6: Guidelines for the management of patients with HIV infections or AIDS
- Booklet 7: Guidelines withholding and withdrawing treatment
- Booklet 8: Guidelines on Reproductive Health management – Info coming soon
- Booklet 9: Guidelines on Patient Records
- Booklet 10: Guidelines for the practice of Telehealth
- Booklet 11: Guidelines on Over-servicing, Perverse Incentives and Related Matters
- Booklet 12: Guidelines for the management of health care waste
- Booklet 13: General ethical guidelines for health researchers
- Booklet 14: Ethical Guidelines for Biotechnology Research in South Africa
- Booklet 15: Research, development and the use of the chemical, biological and nuclear weapons
- Booklet 16: Guidelines on Social Media
- Booklet 17: Ethical Guidelines on Palliative Care
- Booklet 19: Guidelines on matters relating to ethical billing practices
More information
For further enquiries, please contact professionalpractice@hpcsa.co.za.
Last Updated on 11 June 2025 by HPCSA Corporate Affairs