Malpractice, recklessness, and negligence: physicians on the edge of ethics

Authors

Abstract

Malpractice, recklessness, and negligence are offenses that compromise patient safety and society’s
trust in medicine. An analysis of cases tried by the Regional Medical Council of Minas Gerais between
2012 and 2022 revealed that, of the 1,660 doctors tried, 29.8% were accused of violations of Article
1 of the Code of Medical Ethics, and 53.3% of these cases resulted in convictions. Negligence was
the most common violation, at 61.8%. There was a significant association between the variables
age (p=0.009), type of complainant (p<0.001), type of healthcare institution (p<0.001), and penalty
(p<0.001) and violation of Article 1 of the Code of Medical Ethics; as well as between type of healthcare
institution (p=0.002) and penalty (p=0.018) and the most violated sub-items of Article 1, negligence
and recklessness. In conclusion, it is essential to strengthen ethics in medical care through continuing
education and institutional policies that promote responsibility and respect for human dignity.

Keywords:

Malpractice, Imprudence, Whistleblowing, Codes of Ethics, Ethics, Medical, Malpractice. Imprudence. Codes of ethics. Ethics, medical.

Author Biographies

Renata Bittar Britto Arantes, Universidade do Porto, Porto, Portugal.

Renata Bittar Britto Arantes – Doutoranda – renata.arantesufu@gmail.com
0009-0002-5808-0210

Alanna Gomes da Silva, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte/MG, Brasil.

Alanna Gomes da Silva – Doutora – alannagomessilva@gmail.com
0000-0003-2587-5658

Mónica Correia, Universidade do Porto, Porto, Portugal.

Mónica Correia – Doutora – mcorreia@med.up.pt
0000-0002-9034-7029

Guilherme Augusto Veloso, Universidade Federal Fluminense, Rio de Janeiro/RJ, Brasil

Guilherme Augusto Veloso – Doutor – guilhermev@id.uff.br
0000-0002-5348-3793

Rui Nunes, Universidade do Porto, Porto, Portugal.

Rui Nunes – Doutor – ruinunes@med.up.pt
0000-0002-1377-9899

Vol. 34 (2026): Continuous publication

Published:

2026-04-07

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.1590/1983-803420264000PT

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How to Cite

1.
Bittar Britto Arantes R, Gomes da Silva A, Correia M, Augusto Veloso G, Nunes R. Malpractice, recklessness, and negligence: physicians on the edge of ethics. Rev. Bioét. [Internet]. 2026 Apr. 7 [cited 2026 Apr. 19];34. Available from: https://revistabioetica.cfm.org.br/revista_bioetica/article/view/4000

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