A revised professional code of ethics for doctors will contain changes on how far they are allowed to promote their services, according to the Medical Council's top ethicist.
David Fang Jin-sheng, chairman of the council's ethics committee, said the revised Professional Code and Conduct would contain some of the changes that had been promulgated since the last revision in November 2000.
The code, at present, states doctors may disseminate information about their services so long as they do not use 'comparative terms and disparage others ... They cannot put their service information whenever or wherever they want'.
'If they are associated with companies, they have to ensure that the companies advertise according to the principles of the professional code,' he said.
Dr Fang said a survey showed overwhelming opposition to the idea of publishing service information in newspapers, magazines, periodicals and journals 'at any time, at whatever frequency they like'.
'But we had 700 against and 400 in favour. The council will continue to seek current peer opinion,' he added.