Understanding and Applying the Principles of Contemporary Medical Professionalism: Illustration of a Suggested Approach, Part 2

• Published in: Journal of the American College of Radiology Vol. 12; no. 1; pp. 12 - 14
• Main Author: Becker, Gary J., MD
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States Elsevier Inc 01-01-2015
• Subjects: Europe; Guideline Adherence; Humans; Patient Rights - ethics; Patient Rights - standards; Physician's Role; Physician-Patient Relations - ethics; Quality Assurance, Health Care - ethics; Quality Assurance, Health Care - standards; Radiology; Radiology - ethics; Radiology - standards; United States; United States; Europe
• ISSN: 1546-1440; 1558-349X
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jacr.2014.09.004

In recent years, formal professionalism education, training, and assessment have been introduced to medical schools and accredited residency training programs. Current constructs of medical professionalism characterize it as a multidimensional competency rather than a trait. Medical professionalism is a belief system for organizing and delivering care, in which group members (medical professionals) promise patients and the public that they will self-regulate (ie, ensure that medical professionals live up to standards of competence and ethical values). Physicians who are good professionals have lapses in professionalism. Responses to professional lapses should focus on remediation. Failure of groups of professionals to enforce the standards and values can convey to patients and the public a lack of trustworthiness and thereby undermine the foundation of professionalism, the social contract. The Physician Charter sets forth the 3 fundamental principles and 10 commitments that offer guidance in some of the most challenging situations. One example is illustrated herein and is continued from Part 1 of this two-part series.