Good Medical Practice: A Doctor’s Guide to the Code of Conduct
Good Medical Practice is the document every Australian doctor is measured against — yet many have not read it closely since medical school. This guide explains what the code of conduct covers, the standards it sets across clinical care, communication, professional behaviour and self-care, and why it matters whenever a concern is assessed.
Key takeaways
- Good Medical Practice: a code of conduct for doctors in Australia is published by the Medical Board of Australia and describes what is expected of every registered doctor.
- It sets out principles across good patient care, working with patients and colleagues, professional behaviour, minimising risk, and maintaining your own health.
- It complements the AMA Code of Ethics and aligns with the Declaration of Geneva and the International Code of Medical Ethics.
- The code applies in all settings, including telehealth and social media.
- Conduct that varies significantly from the code must be explained and justified; serious or repeated failure can affect registration.
What is Good Medical Practice?
Good Medical Practice is the Medical Board of Australia’s code of conduct. It describes the standards of ethical and professional conduct expected of doctors by their peers and the community, and it was developed through wide consultation with the profession and the public. It complements the Australian Medical Association’s Code of Ethics and aligns with the Declaration of Geneva and the World Medical Association’s International Code of Medical Ethics. The current code is the version revised in 2020.
The code is a framework to guide professional judgement rather than a rule for every situation. It applies in all settings — including technology-based consultations and how doctors use social media.
What the code covers
Providing good care
Assessing the patient (history and examination), forming and carrying out a suitable management plan, coordinating and maintaining continuity of care, referring when it is in the patient’s interests, and respecting patients’ decisions. It also expects you to practise within the limits of your competence, training and experience, and to manage risk and patient safety.
Working in partnership with patients
Being courteous, respectful, compassionate and honest; protecting privacy and confidentiality; obtaining informed consent and supporting shared decision-making; and recognising the power imbalance in the relationship and never exploiting patients physically, emotionally, sexually or financially. Effective communication — listening, respecting patients’ views, and responding to their concerns — runs throughout.
Working with other healthcare professionals
Mutual respect, clear communication, understanding your role within a team, and resolving differences constructively. Working in a team does not reduce your personal accountability for the care you provide.
Professional behaviour
Maintaining professional boundaries; honesty and probity, including only signing reports, certificates and records you reasonably believe to be true; advertising that is not false or misleading and that avoids testimonials and inducements; identifying and managing conflicts of interest; using social media and making public comment responsibly; and applying the code’s standards to medico-legal or third-party assessments, where the usual therapeutic relationship does not exist.
Maintaining professional performance
Engaging in lifelong learning and continuing professional development, keeping your knowledge and skills up to date, and practising within your scope. Our guide to reflective practice and insight for doctors looks at this in detail.
Caring for your own health
Recognising that your own health affects safe practice — having your own GP, not self-diagnosing or self-prescribing, and seeking help when you need it. The mandatory notification thresholds are deliberately set high so they do not deter you from getting care.
Why the code matters in practice
When a notification is assessed, the central question is whether the doctor’s conduct met the standard described in Good Medical Practice. Knowing the code helps you practise safely and, if a concern ever arises, helps you reflect and respond against the right benchmark. See how complaints and notifications about doctors are handled.
Guidelines that sit alongside the code
Where the code is general, the Board issues more detailed guidelines — for example on advertising, telehealth, sexual boundaries, mandatory notifications and social media. These should be read together with the code, and you can find them on the Medical Board of Australia website under Codes, Guidelines and Policies.
Related CPD courses
Build the knowledge and reflective skills this article describes with CPD designed for Australian practitioners:
CPD courseProfessionalism and Professional Standards for Doctors CPD courseEthics and Ethical Standards for Doctors CPD courseEthical Boundaries with Patients and Colleagues CPD courseEffective Communication for Healthcare ProfessionalsContinue the Medical Board series
Complaints and Notifications Explained Reflective Practice and Insight for DoctorsFrequently asked questions
What is the current version of Good Medical Practice?
The current code is the version revised in 2020, published by the Medical Board of Australia.
Does it apply to social media and telehealth?
Yes. The code applies in all settings, including technology-based consultations and how doctors use social media.
Is the code legally binding?
It is issued under the National Law and is the standard against which conduct is assessed. Significant departures must be justified and can affect registration.
How is it different from the AMA Code of Ethics?
Good Medical Practice is the Board’s regulatory code of conduct; it complements the AMA Code of Ethics, which is the profession’s ethical statement.
Where can I read the full code?
On the Medical Board of Australia website, under Codes, Guidelines and Policies.
This article is general information for education and CPD purposes. It is not legal advice and does not create a practitioner–adviser relationship. If you have received a notification, seek advice from your indemnity insurer or medical defence organisation, your professional association, or an independent lawyer experienced in medical regulation matters. Healthcare Ethics Courses is an independent education provider and is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or acting on behalf of AHPRA or any National Board; regulator names are used for reference only.