The Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland has launched the third edition of its Code of Practice for Surgeons, a comprehensive guide designed to support surgeons in upholding the highest standards of patient care and professional conduct.

First published in 2004 and updated in 2016, the RCSI Code of Practice for Surgeons provides a straightforward 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.

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, RCSI President Professor 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 Code of Practice for Surgeons (Third Edition, 2025) is available to download here.

The RCSI Code of Practice for Surgeons should be read in conjunction with the Medical Council’s Ethical Guide, the HSE National Policy and Procedure for Safe Surgery (2022), the HSE National Consent Policy (2022), and the National Policy on Open Disclosure (2019).