We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website.
If you continue without changing your settings, we’ll assume you’re happy to receive all cookies from the BMA website. Find out more about cookies
When you visit any web site, it may store or retrieve information on your browser, mostly in the form of cookies. This information might be about you, your preferences or your device and is mostly used to make the site work as you expect it to. The information does not usually directly identify you, but it can give you a more personalised web experience.
Because we respect your right to privacy, you can choose not to allow some types of cookies. Click on the different category headings to find out more and change our default settings. However, blocking some types of cookies may impact your experience of the site and the services we are able to offer.
These cookies are necessary for the website to function and cannot be switched off in our systems. They are usually only set in response to actions made by you which amount to a request for services, such as setting your privacy preferences, logging in or filling in forms.
You can set your browser to block or alert you about these cookies, but some parts of the site will not then work. These cookies do not store any personally identifiable information.
These cookies are required
These cookies allow us to know which pages are the most and least popular and see how visitors move around the site. All information we collect is anonymous unless you actively provide personal information to us.
If you do not allow these cookies we will not know when you have visited our site, and will not be able to monitor its performance.
These cookies allow a website to remember choices you make (such as your user name, language or the region you're in) and tailor the website to provide enhanced features and content for you.
For example, they can be used to remember certain log-in details, changes you've made to text size, font and other parts of pages that you can customise. They may also be used to provide services you've asked for such as watching a video or commenting on a blog. These cookies may be used to ensure that all our services and communications are relevant to you. The information these cookies collect cannot track your browsing activity on other websites.
Without these cookies, a website cannot remember choices you've previously made or personalise your browsing experience meaning you would have to reset these for every visit. In addition, some functionality may not be available if this category is switched off.
Our websites sometimes integrate with other companies’ sites. For example, we integrate with social networking sites such as Twitter and Facebook, to make it easier for you to share what you have read. These sites place their own cookies on your browser as a result of us including their icons and ‘like’ or ‘share’ buttons on our sites.
Selected categories
Our ethics toolkits gives you essential guidance on the legal and ethical issues you may encounter in your clinical practice.
This toolkit is about the doctor's role in safeguarding adults who may be at risk of abuse or neglect. Designed principally for doctors working in England, it is also useful for any professional working in health across the devolved nations.
From April 2019 a new medical examiner led system will begin to be rolled out within hospitals in England and Wales.
Armed forces doctors can use this essential guidance on how best to fulfil their ethical obligations as medical doctors in the military context.
You face compex dilemmas when treating children and young people. Access our tool kit and other guidance, including FGM and parental responsibility.
Guidance for doctors about confidentiality of patient information and medical health records.
Read our guidance on how to identify and properly manage relevant conflicts of interest.
Access our resources on consent, including the consent tool kit, answering questions on consent, and other key guidance in this area.
This toolkit aims to prepare humanitarian health professionals for the problems they might face while working in conflicts and emergencies.
An A-Z of our guidance on a range of key ethical issues, from access to medical records and confidentiality to safeguarding vulnerable adults or using social media.
Our handy reference paperback gives advice on everyday ethical dilemmas for areas such as the doctor-patient relationship, confidentiality and managing health records.
This guidance sets out the BMA's views on conscientious objection and the manifestation of religious and cultural belief for both doctors and medical students.
Do you treat patients who are refugees or asylum seekers? Find out more about their specific health needs, entitlement to different types of NHS care and how to overcome common access and language barriers.
Read our new guidance which supports doctors making decisions about CANH for adults who lack capacity in England and Wales.
Find out more
"Thank you so very much for all the good advice and your continuing support. It means a lot to me and I cannot thank you enough!"
BMA member