Current standards
The principal function of the Medical Council of New Zealand is to protect the health and safety of the public by ensuring that doctors are competent and fit to practise. We do this by setting standards of clinical and cultural competence and ethical conduct for doctors.
Our current standards set out the principles and values that define good medical practice, and outline what we expect from doctors in all aspects of their professional behaviour.
Our current standards are used by the Health Practitioners Disciplinary Tribunal, the Council and the Health and Disability Commissioner as benchmarks against which doctors are measured.
| B | I | N | G | O |
| 43 | 5 | 35 | 53 | 23 |
| 23 | 53 | 63 | 5 | 3 |
| 23 | 35 | 235 | 23 | 23 |
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Our "Good medical practice" publication provides guidance to doctors on the standards of practice we expect.
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The medical care and prescribing standards set out what is expected of doctors when provdiing services related to the maintenance of health, prevention of illness, and treatment of illness and injury.
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The Council's communication and consent standards are about doctors' interactions with patients and family members. They cover how doctors should convey information, including the use of communications technology; the importance of trust between doctors and patients when discussing treatment options and making informed choices; the maintenance of patient records; and how doctors should advertise their services.
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Cultural competence standards set out what the Council expects of doctors when it comes to treating patients in a culturally diverse population such as ours. These standards outline the attitudes and knowledge we expect of doctors when providing care to Māori and Pacific peoples, and the importance of developing skills around cultural awareness. The cultural competence standards also cover how the medical profession can address inequities in patient care and patient outcomes for different groups.
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These standards deal with concerns about a colleague's conduct or competence, the responsibilities that doctors in management roles have, the importance of professional conduct in a healthcare team, and the boundaries that must exist between doctors and patients. They also cover situations where there may be a conflict of interest or if a doctor's objectivity might be compromised.