Better people make better doctors

What does society expect of today’s doctor? More importantly, what does today’s doctor expect of themselves? How can we become better doctors? An overview with Tane Eunson The expectations modern society places on doctors are explored in the ‘good samaritan’ case of Dekker vs Medical Board of WA, where a doctor was called to account for ‘improper conduct in a professional respect’ when she didn’t stop to lend urgent medical assistance at a motor vehicle accident. This post examines how today’s doctors are judged with respect to ‘professionalism’ and how those notions have changed over time. It is then proposed that with the ever-changing landscape of technology, accessible information, medical practice, and increasing patient autonomy, professionalism needs to be driven first and foremost by high personal standards. In April 2002, a consultant radiologist, Dr Leila Dekker, was involved in a ‘near-miss’ motor vehicle accident in Roebourne, Western Australia 1. The motor vehicle that she was driving narrowly avoided being struck at an intersection by another motor vehicle. The second vehicle subsequently ran off the road and rolled into a ditch. Dr Dekker heard the crash and admitted that she thought the injuries sustained by the occupants of that car would likely have been serious. However, she was “petrified” from the near-miss and decided not to attend the scene to see if she could render medical assistance. Instead, she drove a short distanc...
Source: Life in the Fast Lane - Category: Emergency Medicine Authors: Tags: Arcanum Veritas better doctors Better people Tane Eunson Source Type: blogs