Instead, doctors should treat any patient with Ebola or any infectious illness provided they had access to the correct personal protective equipment and assistance, and were aware of the necessary infection control practices.
Medical Council of New Zealand chairman Dr Andrew Connolly said the aim was to make it clear to doctors that picking and choosing was not professionally defendable after a DHB boss raised concerns over a media report that Counties Manukau DHB would ask for volunteers to work in its isolation unit.
Dr Connolly said common sense needed to be applied in each case and exceptions could be a doctor who was immunodeficient, had a sick child at home or was pregnant.
Watch: Texas nurse Nina Pham cured of Ebola
"If they genuinely, despite our reassurance about the equipment being state-of-the-art and training, are going to be a bundle of nerves ... and potentially pose a threat either to themselves or other people ... then they really shouldn't be in the room."
However, in most cases only doctors with specialist training would be treating Ebola patients unless there was an epidemic, of which the risk was 1 in 40,000 in New Zealand.
But the New Zealand Nursing Organisation (NZNO) professional nursing adviser Suzanne Roll argued nurses should be given the choice before putting themselves at risk.
"DHBs who say their nurses would have no say are taking an unduly and unnecessarily hard stance," she said. "NZNO believes that energy should be spent educating staff, ensuring preparedness and training and involving staff in constructive conversations."
Resident Doctors' Association national secretary Dr Deborah Powell did not think doctors would be forced into treating Ebola patients against their will.
"I think from the doctors and nurses, there's a certain security in the fact there are a very limited number of people who will be involved in the care of these patients and I have no doubt that within our large population of doctors and nurses no one will be coerced," she said.
Meanwhile, hundreds of primary health workers gathered in Auckland last night for a seminar about preparing for Ebola.
5 Facts about Ebola
Viral disease
Ebola is a viral disease that can cause severe bleeding, kidney and liver failure and, in many cases, death. It is spread by contact with infected body fluids (such as blood, saliva, urine or faeces), through broken skin or mucous membranes (such as the mouth or eyes).
Travellers tested
Travellers coming from Ebola-affected countries are being screened and given information on how they should seek medical advice if they become unwell.
Spreading
Cases outside West Africa have been confirmed in the United States and parts of Europe.
4500 deaths
The Ebola outbreak in West Africa has already killed more than 4500 people.
NZ ready
There are four specialist units at hospitals in Auckland, Middlemore, Wellington and Christchurch in case Ebola enters New Zealand.
