Have changes in the context of doctors’ work altered the concept of the professional in medicine?

Abstract

There is clearly current interest in the subject of doctors as professionals. Many other bodies look towards medicine for a definition of a professional. The term ‘professional’ is not easy to define but appears to include the concepts of a body of specialized knowledge and skill, autonomy, trust, responsibility and integrity, serving society, direct interaction with clients, duty to speak with authority and a licence to practise. This paper reflects on the changes in doctors’ work, looking for any alteration in the concept of a professional. There have been significant recent changes in the context of medical work; medicine has suffered much bad publicity. In addition there have been major changes to the regulatory council and there have also been fundamental registration changes, including the revalidation of registration. The government has made substantial changes involving performance targets and management. In addition, patient power has been enhanced. This paper contends that there has been little change in the professional role of medical practitioners; this lack of change assists with defining the whole concept of a professional. The professional role appears to include elements of specialized knowledge, a service ethic and critical evaluation, but there are traits of personality within the concept. The paper concludes with the realization that a definition of a professional is both difficult and continually changing. There are important implications from this paper for other groups that seek to be professionals. Certainly, any such group needs to convince others that this title should indeed be used.