Médecins Sans Frontières (abbreviated MSF; sometimes known as Doctors Without Borders in English-speaking countries) is a nonprofit private organisation created in 1971 by a small group of French doctors led by Bernard Kouchner. The organisation was founded in the belief that all people have the right to medical care and that their need is more important than national borders. It received the Nobel Peace Prize in 1999

Principles of Medecins Sans Frontiers

Médecins Sans Frontières is a private international organisation. Most of its members are doctors and health workers, but many other support professions contribute to MSF’s smooth functioning. All of them agree to honor the following principles:

Médecins Sans Frontières offers assistance to populations in distress, to victims of natural or man-made disasters and to victims of armed conflict, wthout discrimination and irrespective of race, religion, creed or political affiliation.

Médecins Sans Frontières observes neutrality and impartiality in the name of universal medical ethics and the right to humanitarian assistance and demands full and unhindered freedom in the exercise of its functions.

MSF volunteers promise to honour their professional code of ethics and to maintain complete independence from all political, economic and religious powers.

As volunteers, members are aware of the risks and dangers of the missions they undertake and have no right to compensation for themselves or their beneficiaries other than that which Médecins Sans Frontières is able to afford them.

External Links

Medecins Sans Frontiers at Nobel Prize.org

Medecins sans frontiers books at Amazon.com