Medical Professionalism

The Canadian Stakeholders Coalition on Medical Professionalism states: "Medical professionalism describes the skills, attitudes and behaviours common to those undertaking the practice of medicine. It includes concepts such as the maintenance of competence for a unique body of knowledge and skill set, personal integrity, altruism, adherence to ethical codes of conduct, accountability, a dedication to self-regulation, and the exercise of discretionary judgment. Professionalism is also the moral understanding among medical practitioners that gives reality to the social contract between medicine and society. This contract in return grants the medical profession a monopoly over the use of its knowledge base, the right to considerable autonomy in practice and the privilege of self-regulation."

The CMA has long recognized the importance of this issue to the organization, and recently updated its policy on Medical Professionalism. The policy discusses the three major features of medical professionalism, along with opportunities and challenges in sustaining professionalism. The Committee on Ethics also published a discussion paper on professionalism in medicine in the CMA series of Health Care Discussion Papers.

Resources

• Medical Professionalism in the New Millennium: A Physician Charter (ABIM Foundation, ACP-ASIM Foundation, and European Federation of Internal Medicine)
• Association of Faculties of Medicine of Canada: AFMC Resource Group on Professionalism
• World Medical Association: Ethics and Medical Professionalism
• American College of Physicians: Center for Ethics and Professionalism
• Singapore Medical Association: SMA Centre for Medical Ethics & Professionalism

Articles

• Changes in students' moral development during medical school: a cohort study
• Medicine under threat: professionalism and professional identity
• Culturing education
• Scandalous lessons
• Professionalism: a contract between medicine and society

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