Approximately nine out of 10 Irish people trust Irish doctors to tell the truth, and compared to other professional groups, doctors are highly trusted, according to a new survey.

However, the survey indicates that some of this trust might be not always be reciprocated by doctors.

It found that some doctors would be reluctant to report an incompetent colleague, or to admit significant medical errors they had made themselves.

The poll showed that Irish people rate their doctors highly, with 94% reporting a positive experience with their own doctor.

Just over 70% of patients said they were confident that their doctor would report concerns about problems relating to another doctor that would affect his or her ability to treat patients.

However, only half of doctors surveyed said they completely agreed that doctors should report all instances of significantly impaired or incompetent colleagues to relevant authorities.

Of doctors who had encountered a significantly impaired or incompetent colleague, only 41% reported this colleague, 36% spoke to the doctor concerned themselves and 18% stopped referring their patients to this doctor.

Reasons given by doctors for not reporting an underperforming colleague included that no action might result, fear of retribution and a belief that someone else was dealing with the problem.

Seventy seven per cent of patients were confident that their doctor would tell them if they had made a mistake in their care.

But when doctors were asked about admitting mistakes, only 63% completely agreed that they should disclose all significant medical errors.

Only one-in-four doctors completely agreed that medics should have their continuing fitness to practise periodically re-evaluated and 42% agreed that doctors should peer-review the work of their colleagues.

The survey, carried out by the doctors' regulatory body, the Medical Council, found that 94% of people reported a positive experience with their own doctor - 63% of people rated as 'very satisfactory' the experience they had with the doctor they attended most often, and 31% rated their experience as 'satisfactory'.

Eighty-nine per cent of patients surveyed said they had never experienced anything that would require them to make a complaint about a doctor.

The survey also found that the public had confidence in the quality of their doctors' communication skills- around nine out of 10 people were confident about their doctors' skills in terms of good patient-doctor communication; effective communications about personal health; explaining diagnosis and treatment; respect and being a good listener; and giving time and attention to the patient.

It was found that 84% of people surveyed were confident that the doctor would explain the side-effects of medication they had recommended, and 92% were confident that their doctor would give them information to enable them to make a decision about their care.

Eighty per cent of doctors surveyed agreed that they should fully inform all patients of the benefits and risks of a procedure or course of treatment, and the majority of doctors surveyed said they had referred a patient on to a specialist or prescribed a branded drug at the patient's request.

The survey also found a low level of awareness among the public about the type of disciplinary proceedings that can be taken against doctors - only half of people surveyed were aware of Medical Council fitness to practise inquiries, while less than one-in five were aware these were now held in public.

Around nine in 10 people said they were confident that their doctor would report child protection or child welfare concerns to the appropriate authorities.

A total of 1,000 patients and nearly 700 doctors were surveyed by the Medical Council.