Professionalism is the basis of medicine's contract with society. It demands placing the interests of patients above those of the physician, setting and maintaining standards of competence and integrity, and providing expert advice to society on matters of health. The principles and responsibilites of medical professionalism must be clearly understood by both the profession and society. Essential to this contract is public trust in physicians, which depends on the integritiy of both indiviudal physicians and the whole profession.
"Every spring for almost 20 years, I have happily
donned a rented robe, hood, and mortarboard to
attend medical school commencement exercises.
The purpose of this annual foray into pomp and
circumstance goes well beyond applauding the
achievements of graduates who are about to enter
the medical profession. For me, commencement is
the perfect opportunity to renew my vows, as it were,
standing shoulder to shoulder with both newly
minted doctors and like-minded colleagues as we
take the Hippocratic Oath." ...by Howard Markel
"Das Leben ist kurz, die Kunst
weit, der günstige Augenblick
flüchtig, der Versuch trügerisch,
die Entscheidung schwierig.
Der Arzt muß nicht nur bereit
sein, selber seine Pflicht zu tun,
er muß sich auch die Mitwirkung
des Kranken, der Gehilfen
und der Umstände sichern." ...und weitere Aphorismen von Hippokrates.