What doctors and patients told us about the core ethical standards (Good Medical Practice)

Council is reviewing the core ethical standards it sets for the profession, ensuring the standards reflect both patient expectations and the realities of clinical practice.

As part of this work, we have sought feedback from patients and doctors and have now released two reports that reflect their views.

The doctor survey was sent to all doctors in Aotearoa New Zealand and asked how they use the Good Medical Practice publication to support their work and where clearer or more practical guidance would help. Doctors described using Good Medical Practice to support ethical decision-making, professional boundaries and supervision. Feedback also pointed to areas that could be strengthened to better reflect current practice, including cultural safety, use of technology, workload pressures and working in team-based care.

The patient survey gathered views from a representative group of members of the public about what they expect from doctors when receiving medical care. Patients consistently highlighted the importance of being listened to, treated with respect and involved in decisions about their care. Trust, clear communication and cultural respect were recurring themes, including recognition of Te Tiriti o Waitangi and the role of whānau in their care.

Hearing directly from doctors and patients helps the Council better understand expectations of medical practice and where guidance needs to remain clear, relevant and trusted.

The findings will inform the ongoing review of Council’s standards and guidance as this work progresses over the course of 2026.

View and download the reports at the links below:

Patient feedback report
Doctor feedback report