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Guide to Professional Conduct and Ethics for Registered Medical Practitioners

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In November 2023, The Medical Council launched the 9th edition of its Guide to Professional Conduct & Ethics for Registered Medical Practitioners. The Guide seeks to support doctors by providing principles–based guidance on how to best work in partnership with patients. It covers a wide range of topics and scenarios likely to arise over the course of their professional careers. The Guide is also useful for patients as it clarifies the standards of care they should expect from their doctor.  

It contains new and revised guidance for doctors on areas including:

  • Broadening of guidance on communicating with the public, including social media  
  • Guidance for doctors acting as expert witnesses 
  • Guiding Values and Principles in managing situations with patients, covering honesty, integrity, putting patients first, treating patients with dignity and respect  
  • Updated section on responsible use of health resources, and advocating for patients and services 
  • Use of the terms ‘must’ and ‘should’ and ‘judgement’ 
  • Guidance for doctors on professional conduct and professional ethics, with doctors encouraged to seek other sources of guidance to inform their practice, including national, international, and organisational standards and policies, clinical and specialty specific standards and guidelines 

The Guide to Professional Conduct and Ethics for Registered Medical Practitioners is updated by the Medical Council approximately every five years.  

Read the Guide to Professional Conduct and Ethics for Registered Medical Practitioners (9th Edition) 2024.

Chapter Contents

Chapter 1: Good Medical Practice and Patient Safety

The topics covered in this section of the Guide are as follows:

1. Good medical practice

2. Patient safety

3. Identifying and raising concerns

4. Open disclosure

5. Protection and welfare of children and young people

6. Protection and welfare of adults at risk of abuse

7. Reporting of alleged historical abuse

8. Providing care in emergencies

9. Healthcare resources

10. Safe environment and management for doctors

11. Leadership and management for doctors

12. Health and wellbeing of doctors

Chapter 2: Consent

The topics covered in this section of the Guide are as follows:

13. Consent - general principles

14. Capacity and assisted decision-making

15. Requirements for informed consent

16. Responsibility for seeking consent

17. Consent in emergency situations

18. Where a patient declines treatment

19. Withdrawal of consent

20. Advance healthcare planning

21. Consent to genetic testing

22. Consent and declining treatment - children and young people

23. Consent - clinical trials and research

24. Physical and intimate examinations

Chapter 3: Confidentiality

The topics covered in this section of the Guide are as follows:

25. Confidentiality - general principles

26. Confidentiality - children and young people

27. Disclosure of patient information within the healthcare team

28. Disclosure of patient information outside the healthcare team

29. Disclosure of patient information outside the healthcare team without consent

30. Disclosure after death

31. Photographic, video or audio recording of a patient by a doctor

32. Photographic, video or audio recording by a patient during a consultation

Chapter 4: Continuity of Care

The topics covered in this section of the Guide are as follows:

33. Continuity of care 

34. Prescribing 

35. Prescribing controlled drugs 

36. Transcribing prescriptions 

37. Telemedicine 

38. Medical records 

39. Retention of medical records 

40. Cessation of practice and transfer of patient care 

41. Doctor’s decision not to provide specific requested interventions 

42. Conscientious objection 

43. Treatment of prisoners 

44. Restraint 

45. Patients who pose a risk of harm 

46. End of life care

Chapter 5: Professionalism

The topics covered in this section of the Guide are as follows:

47. Maintaining professional boundaries with patients

48. Treating people close to you

49. Communicating with the public

50. Fees, advertising and provision of practice information

51. Medical reports

52. Certification

53. Expert witnesses

54. Conflicts of interest

55. Relationships with colleagues

56. Concerns about colleagues

57. Clinical trials and research

58. Teaching and training

59. Allowing school students to observe your practice

Chapter 6: Regulatory Requirements

The topics covered in this section of the Guide are as follows:

60. Registration

61. Maintaining professional competence

62. Professional indemnity

63. Language skills

64. Complaints made to the Medical Council about a doctor

Appendix A: Eight Domains of Good Professional Practice

The eight domains of good professional practice are as follows:

1. Patient Safety and Quality of Patient Care

2. Relating to Patients

3. Communication and Interpersonal Skills

4. Collaboration and Teamwork

5. Management (including Self Management)

6. Scholarship

7. Professionalism

8. Clinical Skills

Previous Editions

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About Us

The Medical Council regulates medical doctors in Ireland. The Council’s purpose is to protect the public by promoting and better ensuring high standards of professional conduct, education, training, and competence among doctors.