Balancing altruism and self-interest: GP and patient implications

Abstract

This paper explores how general practitioners (GPs) address potentially opposing motivations stemming from being altruistic and self-interested, and the implications for patients and GPs. The author finds that GPs address dual goals of patient care and profit generation. This can be challenging, while professional values (altruism) encourage a patient focus, business realities (self-interest) mandate other priorities. Viewing clinicians as altruistic in isolation of business needs is unrealistic, as is the notion that profit is the dominant motivation. A blending of interests occurs, pursuing reasonable self-interest, patients’ best interests are ultimately met. GPs need a profit focus to sustain/improve the practice, benefitting patients through continued availability and capacity for enhancement. Therefore, it is argued that GPs behave in a manner that is ‘part altruistic, part self-interested’ and mutually beneficial. These insights should be considered in designing incentive systems for GPs, raising compelling questions about contemporary understanding of the nature of professionals.

Asian medical students’ attitudes towards professionalism

“…These concordances with several studies which highlighted that the concept of subordinating self-interest appears less appealing to students as a professional attribute [ 25 , 26 ]. A timely literature review by O’Riordan.C highlighted on how self-interest issues work as potent force in the modern world producing great stress on the practice of medicine [ 27 ]. Besides, Ginsburg, Regher and Lingard also reported that actions suggested by students for professional dilemmas were often framed by their own self-interest [ 28 ].…”

A Health Care Value Framework for Physical Therapy Primary Health Care Organizations

“…So too, varying organizational challenges can be dealt with by continuous alignment of the organization. 22 , 24 , 30 , 46 , 58 , 78 , 84 …”

‘The best interest of patients, not self-interest’: how clinicians understand altruism

“…This appreciation of positive psychological benefits for altruism, was formerly taken as an ‘egoist’ or selfish motive [ 3 , 4 , 7 ]. There was an identified need for a balanced approach to altruism in some other studies [ 18 ] culminating in the more recent concept of ‘enlightened self-interest’ in altruism [ 8 ] which has a more balanced approach recognizing physician’s well-being as an advantage rather than a drawback. It promotes well-being of both the physicians and the patients as desirable [ 6 ].…”