Verified Document

Physicians Today Is It A Profession Or Craft Essay

Physicians today - is it a profession or craft? Dating back to the era of Hippocrates, who is also known as the father of medicine, a physician's advice was followed without question. Hippocrates, born in 460 B.C, fought with the superstitious beliefs of that time, and observed that fresh air, good diet, cleanliness and most importantly, plenty of rest, helped in fast recovery. Through history, we come to learn that the oath physicians undertake today, before their medical practice, was formulated during that time, reflecting their sincerity and humbleness towards the noble profession. Naturally, therefore, a physician of that era was viewed in a paternalistic manner and the prevailing culture was definitely one of passive and submissive acceptance. (Oath and Law of Hippocrates, 1910)

Through time, there has been a considerable mutation of the image society has towards doctors. There are several reasons that attribute to reason this change. In many ways, the consumer has had no choice but to shut his mouth and be thankful for the crumbs of blessing, good or bad, falling from the table of the all-powerful health care provider. This situation has led to blatant abuses of the doctor-patient relationship.

Relating to an experience by a psychiatrist, David F. Allen, who was called to the Emergency Room to give a psychiatric consult to a Hispanic lady, who had come in with an anxiety attack and couldn't speak English. The on call doctor, unable to communicate, assumed that she had taken an overdose of a drug and passed a nasogastic tube down her throat, and washed her stomach clean. Later in desperation, she told the psychiatrist, that she had had a quarrel with her daughter in law, because of which she felt extremely bad and wanted someone to talk to, but now she felt worse. This is an example of negligence on part of the doctor. (F. Allen, 1976)

The biggest unethical event was the Tuskegee syphilitic study on African-Americans, who were diagnosed with syphilis. Known and effective treatment was withheld from these patients so as to observe the course of disease...

Furthermore, this event did not come into light until much later when many had already died from the disease, whereas the rest suffered from disease related complications. (M. Sade, 2003) More recently, in 2007, a few doctors in Pakistan have been arrested on the suspicion for selling kidneys. The kidney selling business isn't uncommon amongst most third world countries. (Butt, 2004) Pharmaceutical and health insurance company bribery has also added negativity to the doctor image.
These incidents, conducted under supervision of scientists and physicians, have greatly threatened the public. They symbolize medical misconduct and reveal disregard for human rights that take place in the name of science. The investigators and therapists have not been mad scientists; rather they were physicians and respected men of science.

Television shows, such as Grey's anatomy and scrubs have added a new dimension to the medical profession, which is seen as one with immense glamour and profound drama rather than a vocation full of humility and nobleness.

Moreover, the vast amount of knowledge available online, tempts one to believe that they can self prescribe treatment and perhaps learn surgical procedures through youtube, and thereby become physicians overnight. This idea, accompanied with increasing expenses of medical consultation, minor surgical procedures and treatment, has complicated many diseases.

The lack of governmental interventions and funds have led many physicians to concentrate more on documentation and book keeping functions rather than spending time with patients.

Financial barriers of patients, in hospitals where health facilities are available only by the payment of a doctor's fees, are where most doctors face an ethical challenge. Their misdirected frustrations lead them to spend lesser time with patients belonging to lower socioeconomic background. This class of the society, being more illiterate and unaware…

Sources used in this document:
REFERENCES:

General Medical Council, . (2001). Good medical practice. Retrieved from http://www.gmc-uk.org/guidance/a_z_guidance.asp

F. Allen, David. (1976, Feburary 13). The ethical responsibility of the physician. The Yale Journal Of Biology And Medicine, 49, 447-454.

Collier, P.F., Oath and Law of Hippocrates (1910). Harvard Classics Volume 38 (Online) gopher..//ftp.std.com//00/obi/book/Hippocrates/Hippocratic.Oath (June 25, 2011).

Illich. I, "Medical Namesis" 45 pp. Pantheon Books, Random House, New York, 1976.
Butt, Manzoor. (2004, July). Illegal renal transplants in pakistan. Middle East Journal of Family Medicine, 2(4), Retrieved from http://www.mejfm.com/journal/Jul2004/IllegalRenal.htm
Cite this Document:
Copy Bibliography Citation

Related Documents

Delimitations Today, Modern Business Systems
Words: 20751 Length: 75 Document Type: Research Proposal

A favorite target for conspiracists today as well as in the past, a group of European intellectuals created the Order of the Illuminati in May 1776, in Bavaria, Germany, under the leadership of Adam Weishaupt (Atkins, 2002). In this regard, Stewart (2002) reports that, "The 'great' conspiracy organized in the last half of the eighteenth century through the efforts of a number of secret societies that were striving for

White Collar Work
Words: 2072 Length: 5 Document Type: Term Paper

Growth of Industrialism and White-Collar Workers Rise of professional or "knowledge" class (Peter Drucker) Definition of professional -- denotation only Demographic statistics on rise of white collar and professionals Trend toward professionals as a specific labor union and class Professionals as separate class above blue-collar and other white-collar workers. Connotation of word in today's society. Fincham -- occupational strategy of professionals MacDonald -- rise of professionalism built on lack of self-esteem, anxiety, internal conflict Parry and Parry

Success Factors in the Field of Dentistry
Words: 2524 Length: 8 Document Type: Research Paper

Dentistry Critical Success Factors in the Field of Dentistry The path to becoming a qualified dental professional is partially defined by the medical implications of the chosen career and partially defined by the business administration imperatives also directly related. The discussion here considers some of the key issues in defining critical success factors in the field of dentistry. Most specifically among them, the discussion addresses the characteristics of your dental education and

Richard Selzer's "The Knife" Richard
Words: 712 Length: 2 Document Type: Essay

And in this case, he holds life and death in his hands, presiding over major surgery as though he might be God Himself. In paragraph #4 he uses the simile of his colleagues being "like children absorbed in a game." But then in paragraph #6 there is no doubt what he went through was no child's game: he took a "vow…with all solemnity" and now his world is "blood

Ethnography, Case Study, Narrative, Phenomenology, Grounded Theory...
Words: 1511 Length: 5 Document Type: Essay

Ethnography, case study, narrative, phenomenology, grounded theory Ethnography The qualitative research format of the ethnography began in the discipline of anthropology. Ethnography "is a long-term investigation of a group (often a culture) that is based on immersion and, optimally, participation in that group" (Ethnography, 2013, Colorado State University Writing Guides.). The researcher embraces his or her outsider perspective and contrasts his or her own responses to participating in group rituals and

Call Center Agents Retention in the United States
Words: 2980 Length: 10 Document Type: Research Proposal

Assessment I: Research ProposalProposed TitleAspects influencing call center agents� retention in the United StatesPurpose statementA call center refers to the designated area where calls from customers and other telephone calls are directed. In most instances, computer automation is used within call centers. The primary purpose of call centers is to enhance a centralized contact point for after-sales services, support and company telephone selling, or information helpline services. With increased client-centered

Sign Up for Unlimited Study Help

Our semester plans gives you unlimited, unrestricted access to our entire library of resources —writing tools, guides, example essays, tutorials, class notes, and more.

Get Started Now