The Code of Medical Ethics adopted by the College of Physicians prohibits the promotion of pseudoscientific information, establishes norms for the use of artificial intelligence in the medical act and the patient’s right to a second professional opinion.
Doctors have a new Code of Medical Ethics. PHOTO: IStock
The National General Assembly of the Romanian College of Physicians (CMR) adopted the new Code of Medical Ethics, a document that redefines the ethical and professional framework of medical practice. The code will enter into force on January 1, 2026 and brings modern regulations on telemedicine, the use of social networks and the limits of artificial intelligence in medical activity.
“The new Code has been updated and adapted in accordance with European standards, current legislative provisions and the evolution of medicine, in order to respond to new challenges in medical practice, but also to strengthen respect for patients, respect for doctors and public trust in the medical profession”, announced CMR, on Monday, in a press release, shared on its Facebook page.
Evidence-based medicine
In the context where in the online environment different doctors have promoted recommendations or opinions without any scientific evidence, the main purpose of the new Code is to protect the patient and strengthen public trust in the medical profession.
“The new Code of Medical Ethics brings to attention the principle of medicine based on scientific evidence”, specified in the document.
Thus, “doctors have the obligation to respect the principle medicine based on scientific evidence, as well as to promote medical opinions and messages based on scientific evidence, on verifiable scientific truth, generally accepted and supported by the modern academic medical community, in accordance with the legislation in force, within the limits of the specialty and medical skills held”.
The Code also makes it clear that doctors cannot use their professional authority to endorse pseudoscientific information.
“Thus, the use of a doctor’s professional authority to accredit unverified, pseudoscientific or contrary to current medical knowledge, unfounded on scientific evidence or verifiable scientific truth, with the potential to affect public health, constitutes unethical facts.”
the CMR communique is emphasized.
Doctor – patient relationship
Also, the new code reaffirms the professional independence of the doctor, the principle according to which no administrative or economic decision can prevail over medical standards or patient safety.
“The doctor-patient relationship is exclusively professional and is based on the doctor’s competence and the patient’s compliance with medical recommendations following informed consent. At the same time, the treating doctor has the duty to respect the patient’s right to a second medical opinion”. states the CMR.
The document also recalls the obligation of doctors to provide terminal and palliative care to patients at the end of life, “without discrimination on the basis of age, diagnosis and poor prognosis, in accordance with the provisions of the European Council Guidelines on care at the end of life and the legislation in force”.
Clear rules for public communication and social media
The new Code strictly regulates the way doctors communicate in the public space and the use of social networks, to protect the image of the profession.
“The information transmitted in the public space must be correct, verifiable and neutral, eliminating promises, comparisons or any form of advertising that could affect the dignity of the profession. At the same time, the accepted communication channels are clarified and rules of responsibility for the use of social networks are established”. states the College of Physicians.
The code also prohibits the denigration of colleagues and requires that any professional differences be resolved through the conciliation procedure within the litigation commissions of the territorial Colleges.
Telemedicine and artificial intelligence
For the first time, the document clearly defines telemedicine and its ethical use, insisting on data confidentiality and informed patient consent.
At the same time, the Code establishes the limits of artificial intelligence (AI) in medicine: it can only be used as an auxiliary tool, without replacing the clinical judgment and decision of the doctor.
Univ. Prof. Dr. Cătălina Poiană, president of the Romanian College of Physicians, emphasized that the document represents an important step in the modernization of the institution and in the consolidation of the CMR’s role in the health system.
“The new Code of Medical Ethics is a code of respect – towards the patient, towards colleagues and towards the medical profession. It is a modern tool, adapted to today’s medicine, which, at the same time, defends the dignity of the doctor and protects the patient. Through this Code, the Romanian College of Physicians reaffirms that ethics is the foundation of trust between the doctor and society”. she pointed out.
Since it becomes mandatory
The new Code of Ethics will be published in the Official Gazette and will become mandatory, from January 1, 2026, for all doctors who are members of the CMR, as well as for those who temporarily or occasionally practice the profession in Romania.
The document also brings provisions on transparency, conflict of interest reporting and continued specialization, marking one of the most important ethical updates to the medical profession in recent years.
