BMJ  2007;335 (17 November), doi:10.1136/bmj.39399.659144.47

Editor's Choice

The role of the doctor

The first 150 words of the full text of this article appear below.

In his report into specialist training in the UK, John Tooke asks, "What is the role of the doctor?" The answer may be too various for a single coherent answer. So much depends on context—the clinical setting, the patient's preferences, the doctor's experience and seniority. But is there an irreducible core to the doctor's role, regardless of the context? Tooke calls for a debate that will redefine the doctor's role. We would like to hear your views.

Why bother to try to define the doctor's role? Isn't this an outmoded, doctorcentric waste of time? I would say not, for three reasons. Firstly, the role of the doctor will dictate what sort of people should become doctors and what attributes those who are already doctors should strive to develop in themselves and others. In a different time, William Osler recommended imperturbability and equanimity (p 1049; doi: 10.1136/bmj.39385.642315.FA), while Samuel Johnson . . . [Full text of this article]

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