[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 College 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‰ 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. Inappropriate 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.