The Irish Medical Organisation has said that doctors' individual performance should not be used as a scapegoat for failures in the health system.
IMO president Christine O'Malley said excessive demands were being placed on those working within inadequate systems in the health service.
Addressing a conference on Competence Assurance organised by the IMO in Croke Park in Dublin, Dr O'Malley said: "The vast majority of doctors provide high quality clinical care and wish to have this recognised by peer assessment in a manner which engenders confidence amongst the public at large."
Dr Ronan Boland, IMO General Practice Committee member, said: "It is the policy of the IMO that continuing medical education and maintenance of competence is a moral and ethical responsibility for all doctors; is, basically, a voluntary responsibility; and doctors should be encouraged and facilitated by all appropriate mechanisms to fulfil this ethical obligation."