The Medical Council is planning to develop supplemental guidance on end-of-life care, according to meeting minutes. This follows a Council decision in 2024 which was reiterated in April 2026.
In January 2024, the ninth edition of the Council’s Guide to Professional Conduct and Ethics for Registered Medical Practitioners (‘the Guide’) came into effect. It replaced the eighth edition published in 2016. The Guide, which outlines the values and principles underpinning professionalism and good medical practice, includes a section on end-of-life care.
In July 2024, however, Council agreed supplementary guidance would be produced. This followed representations by doctors, who raised concerns about the process to update the Guide. One of the concerns related to the deletion of the paragraph, “you must not take part in the deliberate killing of a patient.”
It is understood this paragraph was omitted as it was covered by legislation. The Guide states doctors have a “duty to comply with the laws and regulations pertaining to their practice”. In Ireland, it is illegal for any individual, including doctors, to take part in the deliberate killing of a person or to assist a person to end their life. The Council stated the removal of the paragraph should not be interpreted as it taking a stance on any possible future legal changes regarding assisted death.
However, some doctors argued this line should be retained to reflect what they say is an enduring principle of medical ethics – independent of the current law or any possible future law.
In July 2024, Council members discussed the concerns expressed by some doctors. They were “refreshed” on the two-year project to update the Guide, which involved “extensive” consultation. According to meeting minutes, a Council member “raised a concern that a specific group of doctors involved in the care of patients, at the end-of-life, had found the paragraph in the Guide a useful tool for communication with families, prior to its removal”.
Members discussed “how the concerns of doctors could be addressed through supplemental guidance”. Council requested that supplemental guidance be developed.
Subsequently, a desktop review and rapid literature search were conducted. According to a CEO’s report to Council (covering quarter 4, 2025) the executive found that supplemental guidance was unnecessary as the Medical Council’s guidance on end-of-life care aligned with that of other healthcare regulatory bodies, and with national legislation.
In April 2026, the executive asked Council members to consider a recommendation to develop a dedicated webpage on the Medical Council website, signposting national resources and reiterating expectations as outlined in the Guide.
However, following discussion, Council decided principle-based supplemental guidance should be produced, which would involve consultation with the profession and public.
Last month, a Medical Council spokesperson said there was no update regarding the supplemental guidance. “The Council will consider the format and publication of any future guidance at its next meeting in October.”
The UK General Medical Council has produced supplemental guidance on end-of-life care, which “expands on the principles” in the Good medical practice guide.
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