Annex A
Medical professionalism and the 'essence of medicine' have been described in many ways. The following are citations from the Royal College of Physicians of London Report: Doctors in society: Medical professionalism in a changing world2:-
"Medicine bridges the gap between science and society…. But medicine is more than the sum of our knowledge about disease. Medicine concerns the experiences, feelings and interpretations of human beings in often extraordinary moments of fear, anxiety and doubt. In this extremely vulnerable position, it is medical professionalism that underpins the trust the public has in doctors."
"The purpose of medicine is clear. It is to care for the sick always and to cure patients where possible; it is to prevent ill health and to treat disease; it is to promote well-being and to create healing environments. Professionalism lies at the heart of being a good doctor. It sets a standard for what patients should expect from their medical practitioners. In this sense, professionalism is indeed 'an ideal to be sustained'."
"Medicine is a vocation in which a doctor's knowledge, clinical skills and judgement are put in the service of protecting and restoring human well-being. This purpose is realised through a partnership between patient and doctor, one based on mutual respect, individual responsibility, and appropriate accountability.
In their day-to-day practice, doctors are committed to:-
- integrity
- compassion
- altruism
- continuous improvement
- excellence
- working in partnership with members of the wider healthcare team
These values, which underpin the science and practice of medicine, form the basis for a moral contract between the medical profession and society. Each party has a duty to work to strengthen the system of healthcare on which our collective human dignity depends."