Doctors in society: Medical professionalism in a changing world

Abstract

There is an urgent need for doctors to feel good about themselves and better valued. This report recognises uncertainty, judgement and discretion as enduring qualities of medical practice. Values matter but they must be explicit values and represent those of today's doctors as well as those of the previous generation. We need to reinvigorate the professional values that underpin team work and corporate responsibility, and review leadership, engagement and accountability within the profession. The Working Party has been challenged to be more practical as well as conceptual. The basket of qualities must not become 'cloned' and we face unanswered questions (Box 1). The conference identified a need for doctors to lead and make clear compacts with patients, fellow professionals, managers and society. There is a thirst for a new professionalism. Now is the time to be more specific and move on to create these new partnerships.