Before the discovery of modern medicine, life was fleeting for humans. The environment was replete with unseen dangers in the form of disease and medical conditions. Then medical practice changed into an organized profession, and humans experienced a significant improvement in the quality of life. Aided by modern scientific innovation, the boundaries of medical technology extended to unimaginable limits. Nevertheless, even with all these technological innovations, the position of doctors in society hasn’t diminished; doctors remain indispensable.
A doctor is a person with extensive knowledge in the domain of medical science, who applies and dedicates his knowledge to identify the medical problem faced by the patient and then uses his skill to prevent or cure it. The absolute first and the last event of a human are both certified by doctors, in maternity hospitals and morgue.
Unfortunately, not every illness can be cured completely. But with the effort of doctors and medicines and therapies, the lifespan of the patient or onset of the worst effect of an illness can be extended significantly. Though this time varies greatly from case to case and patient to patient, the efforts behind the cause are commendable.
Not every disease threatens the life of the patient. However, living with the discomforts for a lifetime is not an acceptable option either. The effort of doctors makes it possible to mitigate these discomforts and help live their life to fullest.
Some diseases claim an entire population than just handful of random people. Contagious disease and other epidemic conditions are for instance are a huge threat to the health of a common people living in that geographical boundary. Timely measures and awareness by doctors can curb or eliminate such catastrophic situation.
Doctors are responsible for increased life expectancy and improved well-being in society. People who survive diseases such as cancer usually owe their survival to doctors, whose skills and dedication are vital for their cure. Modern medical technology coupled with doctors’ care can give persons diagnosed with terminal illnesses hope of living longer.
Doctors perform humanitarian work in society. Some advocacy groups on health issues, such as hypertension and cancer, draw membership from the medical profession and help disseminate information about how to avoid so-called lifestyle diseases. Doctors may work as volunteers on missions ranging from providing care to disaster victims to training medical personnel in the developing world.
When disease outbreaks occur, information provided by doctors can help contain the epidemic. They also check the spread of disease by alerting the public to factors — such as poor hygiene and risky behaviors — that spread disease. Doctors also work alongside researchers to find new cures for diseases, running drug tests on consenting patients.
Doctors save lives, but their importance goes far beyond that. Doctors also make a difference by helping patients minimize pain, recover from a disease faster or learn to live with a disabling injury. A patient’s ability to enjoy life, even if they can’t be cured, makes a huge difference to them and to their families. If they can go back to work after an illness, that benefits their employer, too. And, that’s only part of what makes doctors important to society.
Traditionally medical professionalism is defined as a set of values, behaviors, and relationships which support the trust the public has in doctors. The public is well aware that absence of professionalism is harmful to their interests. However, the exercise of medical professionalism is endangered by the political and cultural environment.
The values of professionalism have been changed throughout the medical history and the meaning of it was also changed according to social theories. Traditional medical professionalism was based on the virtue of autonomy, self-regulation and competency etc. However, in the new millennium era, the meaning of professionalism has changed under the concept of responsibility which includes the classical virtues.
The meaning of professionalism nowadays is only based on the structure and conflicting theories which cannot solve all the issues surrounding professionalism in medical practice. The conditions of medical practice are critical determinants for the future of professionalism. The interaction between doctor and patient is central to the medical care, and medical professionalism has roots in almost every aspect of medical care. Doctors have responsibility to act according to the values which have been determined by the medical profession, history and surrounding society. The new millennium medical professionalism which based on the responsibility could initiate a public dialogue about the role of the doctor in creating a fairer society.
Medicine bridges the gap between science and society. Indeed, the application of scientific knowledge to human health is a crucial aspect of clinical practice. Doctors are one important agent through which that scientific understanding is expressed. 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 entry of multiple health providers, the wish for more equal engagement between patients and professionals, and the ever-greater contribution of science to advances in clinical practice all demand a clear statement of medicine’s unifying purpose and doctors’ common values.
Although evidence is lacking that more robust professionalism will inevitably lead to better health outcomes, patients certainly understand the meaning of poor professionalism and associate it with poor medical care. The public is well aware that an absence of professionalism is harmful to their interests.
(The Author is a Regular Columnist and can be mailed at [email protected])
