The Practice Guide
competence is more than just clinical skills and
knowledge; it is also practising safely and effectively.
Safe and effective care is achieved when physicians
know about and abide by their professional obligations, and are competent as communicators, collaborators, advocators, and managers. It is expected that
throughout a physician’s career he or she will maintain his or her competence to ensure that patients
receive the best care possible.
Physicians should never forget that their primary
responsibility is to the patient(s) standing before
them, either individually or collectively.
The principles of practice listed below encompass
these competencies. Duties reflect the profession’s
values and demonstrate the principles of practice in
action.
Physicians should be committed to lifelong learning and be responsible for maintaining the medical
knowledge and clinical skills necessary to provide
the highest possible quality of care to patients.
Duties
1. Demonstrating Professional Competence
Physicians should be skilled clinicians committed to
the values of the profession.
At all times physicians should:
A. INDIVIDUALLY TO THE PATIENT
• be aware of deficiencies in knowledge or ability;
Principles of Practice
• obtain help when needed; and
The doctor-patient relationship is the foundation
of the practice of medicine. It reflects the values of
compassion, service, altruism, and trustworthiness.
Trustworthiness is the cornerstone of the doctorpatient relationship; without trust a good doctorpatient relationship cannot exist.
• ensure that their practice matches their level of
competence.
Physicians have a fiduciary duty to their patients
– because the balance of knowledge and information favours the physician, patients are reliant
on their physicians and may be vulnerable. The
patient must always be confident that the physician has put the needs of the patient first. This
principle should inform all aspects of the physician’s practice.
Physicians are expected to make their patient’s
needs the first priority, but accomplishing this
requires a broader focus than the direct physicianpatient relationship. In order to meet individual
patient needs, physicians should consider their contributions to their individual patients, but also to
their own practice, the community, and the health
care system. Physicians hold a respected position
in society and, in return, they have responsibilities.
In terms of individual patient care, physicians should
provide medical care based on objective evidence
whenever possible. This includes demonstrating a
sense of inquiry and taking a scientific approach to
solving clinical issues for the benefit of the patient.
2. Maintaining Confidentiality
An important component of trust is the honest and
compassionate communication of information in
complete confidence.
Receiving and giving sensitive patient information is
essential to the physician’s ability to provide quality care to the patient. Patients give information to
physicians in a unique context where they have the
utmost faith that the physician will maintain patient
privacy and confidentiality.
Physicians must safeguard patient information. Occasionally, however, their responsibility to the public outweighs their responsibility to an individual
patient, necessitating reporting to another party.
Welcome to the College – May 2016
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