Here you will find our current ethical guidance. Our ethical guidance describes the professional values, knowledge, skills and behaviours we expect of all doctors working in the UK.
We have grouped our 32 pieces of guidance into 11 categories. The numbers in brackets indicate the number of guidance in each category.
Start here with Good medical practice...
Good medical practice is the core guidance for all registered doctors. All our guidance builds on these core principles.
Here you will find our confidentiality guidance. You will also find six supporting pieces of guidance to help you decide if patient information should be disclosed in particular situations, such as when considering if a patient is fit to drive, or when a patient has a serious communicable disease.
Our guidance on making decisions about care and treatment in partnership with your patients. It includes guidance on what to do where patients may lack capacity and specific advice on making audio and visual recordings of patients.
Our guidance to help you when something goes wrong. It covers how to be open and honest with patients and those close to them. You will also find guidance on raising concerns about patient safety and advice on your responsibilities if someone raises concerns with you.
All doctors have a leadership role. This guidance supports you in that, and provides additional advice for those in more senior roles.
Our guidance on your responsibilities when prescribing and managing medicines, including if you prescribe online or remotely.
Our guidance on treating children and young people. You will also find advice on the responsibilities of all doctors in protecting children and young people.
Our guidance on providing care to patients reaching the end of their life. It covers adults, children and neonates and includes guidance on advance care planning, clinically assisted nutrition and hydration, and cardiopulmonary resuscitation.
Here you will find a range of guidance to help make sure that you remain professional in the variety of situations that you face. This includes advice on maintaining appropriate boundaries and our social media guidance.
Our guidance on what is expected of a doctor who offers cosmetic interventions.
Our guidance for doctors involved in research.
Our archived ethical guidance dating back to 1993 is available on our guidance archive. We also have a range of patient guides and materials.
You can order hard copies of our core ethical guidance through our publications order form.
We help to protect patients and improve medical education and practice in the UK by setting standards for students and doctors. We support them in achieving and exceeding those standards, and take action when they are not met.
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