In every profession, there sit eh assertion that individuals have to adopt professionalism. a common definition for professionalism is the habitual and judicious use and application of knowledge, communication, technical skills, values, emotions, clinical reasoning and reflections in daily practice fro the benefit of an individual and the society at large (MacKenzie (1). It is important to look at how professionalism applies in the medical field.
As MacKenzie (2) puts it, professionalism in medicine applies in quite a different ways. It has to be considered that there is no way that “our fellow creatures can be dealt with as man deals in corn and coal; the human heart by which we live must control our professional relations (MacKenzie 2). This indicates that professionalism in medicine applies in a different perspective.
There are some aspects associated with the medical professionalism. It has to be remembered that these apply despite the other provisions that exist in the ethical conduct in any profession. Some of the ethics unique to the medical filed are as follows, based on MacKenzie’s (3) argument. There has to be compassion where the medic has to have the heart for others; the patients in this case. Trustworthiness also has to apply where the medic has to understand that the patient places all hopes in the practitioner. This trust should not be betrayed. Similarly, there has to be integrity where the professional medic has to make the right and ethical decisions for the patient with regard to the profession. This is closely associated with discernment which is the ability to make integral decisions. Lastly, the professional has to have conscientiousness which is the motivation and drive to do what is right.
If the above ethical considerations are considered, then it would be very possible for the medical field to be held with high esteem as it always has. The only concern is that these ethical considerations have to be strictly adhered to.
Work Cited
MacKenzie, Ronald C. “Professionalism and Medicine.” HSS Journal, 3.2: 222-227 (2007). Web. 6th Dec. 2012,
