How did the Royal College of Physicians of London help regulate medical practice?

The Royal College of Physicians of London was established in 1518 to address the lack of professional standards in the medical field. At the time, the practice of medicine was often conducted indiscriminately by individuals such as clergymen and barbers, which concerned the physician Thomas Linacre.

To rectify this, Linacre secured letters patent from King Henry VIII, which formally instituted the College. This body was granted the legal authority to regulate the profession by determining exactly who was qualified to practice medicine within the greater London area. By creating a centralized regulatory authority, the College helped transition medical practice toward a more structured and professionalized discipline.1