The Tavistock Principles

The Tavistock Principles guide behavior in health care for both individuals and institutions. 

The following list below are its principles. 

Right: People have a right to health and health care. 

Balance: Care of individual patients is central, but the health of the population is also our concern. 

Comprehensiveness: In addition to treating illness, we have an obligation to ease suffering, minimize disability, prevent disease, and promote health. 

Cooperation: Health care succeeds only if we cooperate with those we serve, each other, and those in other sectors. 

Improvement: Improving health care is a serious and continuing responsibility. 

Safety: Do no harm.

Openness: Being open, honest, and trustworthy is vital in health care.