Toward a Normative Definition of Medical Professionalism

Abstract

In recent years, professionalism in medicine has gained increasing attention. Many have called for a return to medical professionalism as a way to respond to the corporate transformation of the U.S. health care system. Yet there is no common understanding of what is meant by the word professionalism. To encourage dialog and to arrive eventually at some consensus, one needs a normative definition. The author proposes such a definition and asserts that the concept of medical professionalism must be grounded both in the nature of a profession and in the nature of physicians' work. Attributes of medical professionalism reflect societal expectations as they relate to physicians' responsibilities, not only to individual patients but to wider communities as well. The author identifies nine behaviors that constitute medical professionalism and that physicians must exhibit if they are to meet their obligations to their patients, their communities, and their profession. (For example, "Physicians subordinate their own interests to the interests of others.") He argues that physicians must fully comprehend what medical professionalism entails. Serious negative consequences will ensue if physicians cease to exemplify the behaviors that constitute medical professionalism and hence abrogate their responsibilities both to their patients and to their chosen calling.

Building a professionalism framework for healthcare providers in China: A nominal group technique study

“…Although several studies have analyzed medical professionalism from the perspectives of medical educators, physicians, and medical students over the past two decades (Swick 2000;Wagner et al 2007;Miles & Leinster 2010), most of these studies lack input from allied health professionals, patients, and public health experts. Moreover, only a few have characterized medical professionalism in Asian countries Cui & Yuan 2012;Leung et al 2012).…”

Espiritualidade E Saúde: Uma Experiência Na Graduação Em Medicina E Enfermagem

“…Independência entre concepções acerca de Deus e espiritualidade e a importância atribuída ao curso. Com o avanço na leitura dos textos recomendados e o aprofundamento da reflexão promovida em sala de aula, os discentes foram consta-tando que, para a formação de um bom profissional de saúde, é necessário transcender o modelo biomecânico de ensino, questão que tem sido amplamente defendida por diversos autores em todo o mundo (Swick, 2000). O cuidado integral do paciente e de seus familiares requer que o ser humano seja considerado em sua totalidade, ou seja, em suas dimensões física, mental, emocional, cultural e espiritual, pois todas estas estão envolvidas no processo saúde-doença.…”

El sentido social del profesionalismo médico

“…Desde el punto de vista social, representa una oportunidad que descansa en un posicionamiento activo para reafirmar los valores del ideario profesional, para promoverlos, fomentarlos y ejercerlos. Sobre esta base, y con la vista puesta en el futuro, podrá renovar el pacto o contrato con la sociedad, necesidad a la que se ha hecho reiterada referencia en la literatura 8,[18][19][20][21][22] . De aquí deriva el imperativo para que los médicos comprendan el origen y la naturaleza del status profesional y de las obligaciones para sustentarlo.…”