The importance of self-regulation: analysis of the activity of the medical ethics and deontology commission in cordoba

Objective: to analyse the activity of the Medical Ethics and Deontology Commission (MEDC) of the Co-llege of Physicians of Cordoba regarding conflictive situations in the profession from 2013 through 2021. Material and methods: cross-sectional observational study, in which 83 cases of complaints submitted to the College were collected. Results: the incidence was 2.6 complaints parts per thousand members/year, with a total of 92 doctors reported. 61.4% were submitted by the patient, 92.8% of which were addressed to a single doctor. 30.1% were in the speciality of family medicine, 50.6% in the public sector and 72% in outpatient care. In 37.7% the chapter of the Code of Medical Ethics concerned was chapter IV (quality of medical care). In 89.2% of cases the parties came to make a statement, with a higher risk of disciplinary proceedings being observed when the statement was both, oral and written (OR:4.61; p=0.026). The median resolution time was 63 days, significantly longer in cases proposed for disciplinary proceedings (146 days vs. 58.50 days; OR:1.01; p=0.008). The MEDC found 15.7% (n=13) to be in breach of ethics, with 15 doctors being disciplined (16.3%) and 4 sanctioned (26.7%) with a warning and temporary suspension from practice. Conclusions: The role of the MEDC is fundamental in the self-regulation of professional practice. Inappro-priate behaviour during patient care or between colleagues has serious ethical implications, disciplinary repercussions for the physician, and it particularly undermines patients' trust in the medical profession.