Background
In preparation for the introduction of national medical registration from July 2010, the Australian Medical Council - on behalf of all state and territory medical boards - has developed a national code of professional conduct for medical practitioners – Good Medical Practice: A Code of Conduct for Doctors in Australia.
The code aims to define clear, nationally consistent standards of practice. It defines the standards of practice that doctors are likely to be held accountable to in the national system after July 2010.
A consistent code of professional conduct, that is understood by the profession and the community, is an important aspect of national medical regulation.
While the AMA has published a code of ethics and other organisations have developed codes of ethics, practice or conduct, in Australia there has not been a single agreed national document that describes all these responsibilities clearly and consistently, nor has there been broad community consultation on this subject.
This code is designed to reflect the understanding of both the community and the medical profession about the accepted standards of good professional conduct of Australia’s doctors in modern medical practice.
State and territory medical registration boards have a range of policies related to standards of medical practice and these policies will continue to provide guidance to doctors and should be used in conjunction with the code.
The Draft Code of Professional Conduct: Good Medical Practice, August 2008 was available for public comment and consultation during September, October and November 2008. The feedback received during the public and stakeholder consultations, from the on-line survey and the submissions was analysed by the AMC and considered by the Working Group and the Code was refined and modified. For the Report of the Consultation click here.
The AMC received Commonwealth Government funding to implement the broad national consultation process.
In developing the code, the AMC was supported by an expert working group that includes strong clinical representation and the expertise of junior doctors and medical students, medical regulators and educators, medical and health administrators, consumers and community groups, medical profession advocates and the perspectives from rural and indigenous practitioners. Members of the Code of Professional Conduct Working Group: Professor Chris Baggoley, Dr Kerry Breen AM, Associate Professor Will Cairns, Dr Alan Cass, Professor Ric Day, Ms Catherine Elvins, Dr Joanna Flynn, Ms Dianne Gill, Mr Nicholas Jorgensen, Mr Russell McGowan, Associate Professor Helen Milroy, Ms Nicole Newton, Professor Garry Phillips, Professor Paddy Phillips, Dr Stephen Phillips OAM, Dr Peter Pinnington, Dr Alison Reid, Professor Judith Searle, Ms Theanne Walters, Dr Laurie Warfe, Dr Peter White and representatives of the AMA.
