OFFICIAL STANDARDS OF THE UIAA MEDICAL COMMISSION VOL: 8
Model Contract for Health Care on Trekking and Expeditions for Doctors
Intended for Doctors, Interested Non-Medical Persons and Trekking or Expedition Operators
Th. Küpper, I. Nies, D. Hillebrandt, J. Milledge, B. Basnayt 2008
UIAA MedCom Standard No.8: Contract for Expedition Doctors
Introduction
Being an Expedition or Trekking Doctor (referred to herein as “Expedition Doctor”) is more than being merely a member which advises others in case of a health problem during the trip and who may get a discount on organized trips! An expedition doctor has specific responsibilities, has to provide special skills, and must always accept responsibility for any diagnosis made, whether right or wrong. Both, the tour operator and the participants of the Expedition (referred to herein as “Expedition”) have their individual and often conflicting interests to which the expedition doctor’s own mountaineering interests must also be added. However, to minimize the possible multiple risks associated with these conflicts of interest, the rights, obligations and priorisation of medical and expedition scheduling should be made clear well in advance of the expedition. The following is a model text which may be adapted to an expedition’s specific demands. In this text, “expedition” includes the organizers of the trip, the expedition’s leaders and the participants.
This contract document attempts to clarify the rights and obligations of the tour operator
(referred to herein as “organization”, OR), the expedition doctor and the expedition to avoid trouble and misunderstandings during the trip. It is meant to be used as a basis and has to be adapted to the specific circumstances if necessary (see also “Disclaimer” at the end of the text).