In a huge change to the code of ethics that governs doctors in Ireland, newly published guidelines no longer include a prohibition against the deliberate killing of a patient. The prohibition had been and age-old principal of medical ethics with roots going back to ancient Greece, so this represents a seismic shift.

The absence means that if the Government were to legalise euthanasia, as seems to be the intention, the ethics code for doctors would no longer provide a barrier. The Minister for Health oversees appointments to the Council and GPs were not consulted ahead of the change being made.

The 9th edition of the Guide to Professional Conduct & Ethics for Registered Medical Practitioners in Ireland went into effect last week.

In a section on “End of Life care”, the previous version of the code included a paragraph (46.9) that said: “You must not take part in the deliberate killing of a patient”.

The new version of the code now omits that same prohibition.