CHALLENGES OF PROFESSIONALISM

CHALLENGES OF PROFESSIONALISM

The inappropriate actions of a few practicing physicians, physician investigators, and physicians in positions of power in the corporate world, have created a societal demand to punish those involved and have led to the erosion of respect for the medical profession. These negative physician behaviors include the following:

• Abuse of power


• Sexual harassment and inappropriate sexual behavior


• Conflict of interest and inappropriate financial gain


• Professional arrogance and greed


• Physician impairment from drugs and alcohol


• Fraud in research and practice-misrepresentation


• Loss of conscientiousness in fulfilling responsibilities

The AAP, the American Board of Pediatrics, the American Board of Internal Medicine, the Liaison Committee on Medical Education, the Medical Student Objectives Project of the Association of American Medical Colleges, and the ACGME in their Outcomes Project have called for increasing attention to professionalism in the practice of medicine and in the education of physicians.