Abusos e violações da ética médica: casos de condenação pública na região sul do Brasil

Abstract

Ethical conduct is a fundamental pillar of medical practice, essential for patient safety and the maintenance of public trust in the profession. In Brazil, the Regional Councils of Medicine (CRMs) are responsible for overseeing and judging ethical deviations, applying sanctions aimed at regulating professional practice. Understanding the epidemiological profile of these convictions is crucial for identifying systemic vulnerabilities and guiding continuing education policies. In this context, the present study analyzed 633 ethical convictions published by the CRMs in the Southern Region of Brazil (PR, SC, and RS) between 2016 and 2025. The research, descriptive and documental in nature, revealed a predominance of male physicians among those sanctioned (86.3%). A central finding diverges from the national trend: the most common infraction was the violation of Article 18 of the Code of Medical Ethics (14.5%), referring to disobedience to Council resolutions. This contrasts with the Brazilian scenario, where Article 1 (causing harm to the patient) generally prevails (31%), suggesting a regional peculiarity possibly associated with administrative failures. Regarding penalties, the mildest sanctions were the most frequent, notably the "Public Censure in Official Publication" (67%). The maximum penalty, revocation of the professional license (cassation), was recorded in 46 cases (7%). The results indicate that ethical failures are multifactorial, reflecting not only individual misconduct but also systemic gaps in training and the precariousness of medical work.