Professionalism and medicine's social contract with society

Abstract

A social contract does exist between medicine and society. Because society has chosen to use the concept of the profession as a means of organizing the services of the healer, professionalism has come to serve as the basis of this social contract. What is expected of the physician as healer is largely determined by what it means to be a professional in contemporary society. The medical profession must understand professionalism and the obligations that are necessary to sustain it because these serve as the basis for societal expectations. Those representing society must also understand both the presence and the nature of the contract and society's obligations under it. If both sides understand the expectations of their partners-and their own obligations-the contract will function. If not, tensions will exist and impact on the quality of health care.