RCSI publishes updated surgical practice code

The RCSI has launched the third edition of its Code of Practice for Surgeons, the College has announced.

The guide is designed to support surgeons in upholding the highest standards of patient care and professional conduct.

First published in 2004 and updated in 2016, the Code provides a set of principles that surgeons can use to inform and guide their practice. The new 2025 edition reflects changes in the provision of healthcare in Ireland, where advances in technology and robotic-assisted surgery, evolving models of care, and new legislative frameworks are shaping surgical practice. 

It provides surgeons with principles that apply to all areas of their practice, including patient care and safety, ongoing competence, communication, and ethical conduct in both research and private practice.

According to the RCSI, the updated Code responds directly to recent changes in Irish healthcare legislation, including the Assisted Decision-Making (Capacity) Act 2015 (amended in 2022) and the Patient Safety (Notifiable Incidents and Open Disclosure) Act 2023. It also draws on international best practice and extensive consultation with the surgical community. 

Launching the Code of Practice for Surgeons, RCSI President Prof Deborah McNamara said: “Surgical care today is delivered in a rapidly changing and highly complex environment. This updated Code of Practice provides a set of straightforward principles that every surgeon can apply in their daily work. It is our hope that it will support surgeons in navigating new challenges with professionalism, ensuring that patients receive care that is safe, ethical and grounded in best practice.”

The RCSI states the Code should be read in conjunction with the Medical Council’s Guide to Professional Conduct and Ethics for Registered Medical Practitioners (2024), the HSE National Policy and Procedure for Safe Surgery (2022), the HSE National Consent Policy (2022), and the National Policy on Open Disclosure (2019).

The RCSI Code of Practice for Surgeons (Third Edition, 2025) is available to download at www.rcsi.ie.