Medical Council releases updated Ethical Guide for doctors following enactment of Health (Regulation of Termination of Pregnancy) Act 2018

Friday, 30th August 2019: The Medical Council has today issued an updated edition of its Guide to Professional Conduct and Ethics for Registered Medical Practitioners, a resource that provides principles–based guidance for doctors. This new version amends the eighth edition of the guide, which was released in 2016, and contains revised guidance for doctors following the enactment of the Health (Regulation of Termination of Pregnancy) Act 2018.

The Medical Council appointed an Ethics Working Group to specifically review and advise the Medical Council on any required edits to the Guide to Professional Conduct and Ethics for Registered Medical Practitioners. This Group sought input from doctors and key stakeholder groups, and the public to inform their work. The Group, chaired by Medical Council member Dr Suzanne Crowe, presented their recommendations to the full Medical Council which have since adopted the changes to the Guide.

Chairperson of the Ethics Working Group, Dr Suzanne Crowe, said, “We are pleased to publish this comprehensive resource for our doctors, and hope that the amendments in this edition will prove of value to all who use it. The majority of the amendments made are to be read from the practising of medicine point of view and not in isolation for any one procedure. The Ethical Guide contains guidance and information on a variety of matters which affect the medical profession on a daily basis, and we urge doctors to consult this edition for the most up-to-date, relevant and inclusive advice.”

“I wish to acknowledge the work of the Ethics Working Group, our stakeholders for their engagement and to the wider profession for their valuable feedback during the process of revising these guidelines,” concluded Dr Crowe.

Dr Rita Doyle, Medical Council President said, “When the eighth edition of the Guide was launched three years ago, it was envisioned that rolling changes would be incorporated to keep the Guide up to date, and this is the first of these changes. The current medical landscape can be fraught with uncertainty for doctors, and this Guide aims to clarify the Medical Council’s advice in these areas.”

Several sections of the Guide were amended as part of the update, with key changes made to Paragraph 48 Termination of Pregnancy, and Paragraph 49 Conscientious Objection. Other sections which underwent minor updates include Paragraph 36 Continuity of Care, and Paragraph 38 Referral of Patients.

Other topics covered in the Guide are currently under review. A new Ethics Committee has since replaced the Working Group, which devised this update, and are examining other sections of the Ethical Guide.

The updated Guide to Professional Conduct and Ethics for Registered Medical Practitioners is available for download on the Medical Council website

Updated Ethical Guide for Doctors (English Version)

Updated Ethical Guide for Doctors (Irish Version) 

ENDS