Standards and ethics guidance for doctors
Contents
Good Medical Practice
Our core guidance is Good Medical Practice, which sets out the principles and values on which good practice is founded.
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Published: 2006, updated September 2010
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Consent
Consent expands on the guidance in Good Medical Practice, which requires doctors to be satisfied that they have consent from a patient, or other valid authority, before undertaking any examination or investigation, providing treatment, or involving patients in teaching and research.
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Published: 2008, updated September 2011
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Confidentiality
We receive more enquiries about confidentiality than any other issue. This guidance offers advice to doctors on this complicated area, from how to keep records secure to when and how to share information for research purposes.
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Published: 2009, updated September 2010
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0–18 years: guidance for all doctors
This guidance develops the duties and principles set out in Good Medical Practice and in our other guidance. It focuses on children and young people from birth until their 18th birthday.
Web version: View 0–18 years: guidance for all doctors
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Published: 2007, updated September 2011
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Protecting children and young people
All children and young people are entitled to protection from abuse and neglect. This guidance aims to help doctors keep children and young people safe, and to support doctors in what will always be a difficult area of practice.
Web version: View Protecting children and young people: the responsibilities of all doctors
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Published: July 2012
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Leadership and management for all doctors
This guidance sets out the wider management and leadership responsibilities of all doctors in the workplace. These responsibilities relate to employment issues, teaching and training, planning, using and managing resources, raising and acting on concerns, and helping to develop and improve services.
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Published: January 2012
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Raising and acting on concerns about patient safety
All doctors have a duty to act when they believe patients' safety is at risk, or that patients' care or dignity is being compromised. This guidance sets out doctors' responsibilities and gives advice on how to raise and act on concerns.
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Published: January 2012
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Treatment and care towards the end of life
This guidance develops the duties and principles set out in
Good Medical Practice and in our other guidance. It sets out the standards of practice expected of doctors treating patients nearing the end of their life.
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Published: 2010, updated October 2011
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Supplementary guidance
You can find the full list of supplementary guidance publications in the list of ethical guidance section.