Board endorses doctors giving dietary advice

24 Nov 2016

Informed community debate about public health issues is vital.

The Medical Board of Australia today reinforced its expectation that registered medical practitioners provide appropriate dietary advice to patients, when this is indicated.

The Board holds all registered medical practitioners to account against the professional standards it sets, including in Good Medical Practice - A code of conduct for doctors in Australia.

This includes explicit standards in relation to public health and doctors’ responsibility to promote the health of the community through disease prevention and control and screening (see section 5.4). This includes providing appropriate dietary advice, when this is indicated.

Any decision the Board makes to restrict an individual doctor’s registration in some way, reflect the specific facts and circumstances of that case.

For more information

• For media enquiries: (03) 8708 9200
• Lodge an online enquiry form
• For registration enquiries: 1300 419 495 (within Australia) +61 3 9275 9009 (overseas callers)

Download a PDF of this Media statement - Board endorses doctors giving dietary advice - 24 November 2016 (291 KB,PDF)