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]

CiteULike    Complore    Connotea    Del.icio.us    Digg    Reddit    StumbleUpon    Technorati    What's this?

Relevant Articles

Do you have a question for Ara Darzi?
BMJ 2007 335: 0. [Extract] [Full Text]

Respecting the subjective: quality measurement from the patient's perspective

Glyn Elwyn, Stephen Buetow, Judith Hibbard, and Michel Wensing
BMJ 2007 335: 1021-1022. [Extract] [Full Text] [PDF]

In memoriam

Theodore Dalrymple
BMJ 2007 335: 1049. [Extract] [Full Text] [PDF]

Aequanimitas

Daniel Sokol
BMJ 2007 335: 1049. [Extract] [Full Text] [PDF]

Diagnosing medicine's ills

Jerome P Kassirer
BMJ 2007 334: 1115. [Extract] [Full Text] [PDF]

This article has been cited by other articles:

• Godlee, F. (2008). Understanding the role of the doctor. BMJ 337: a3035-a3035 [Full text]  
• Colman, R. D (2007). To care for patients' wellbeing. BMJ 335: 1169-1169 [Full text]  
• Calne, J. A (2007). Behold the factory worker. BMJ 335: 1169-1169 [Full text]  

Rapid Responses:

Read all Rapid Responses

A question for the primary care review

Hendrik J Beerstecher
bmj.com, 16 Nov 2007 [Full text]

Becoming a doctor

Hugh Mann
bmj.com, 17 Nov 2007 [Full text]

Role of a Doctor

Dr A. Breck McKay
bmj.com, 17 Nov 2007 [Full text]

The role of the doctor

Michael J Tayler
bmj.com, 17 Nov 2007 [Full text]

Role of a Doctor

Shiv S Budihal
bmj.com, 17 Nov 2007 [Full text]

Role of a doctor

David I. Ben-Tovim
bmj.com, 19 Nov 2007 [Full text]

A dilemma: to be or not to be a doctor

Dr. Rajesh Chauhan
bmj.com, 19 Nov 2007 [Full text]

Role of Doctors

Ramaswamy Subramanyan, et al.
bmj.com, 19 Nov 2007 [Full text]

Pondering the role of a doctor

Mounir E Nassar, M.D., FACP
bmj.com, 19 Nov 2007 [Full text]

Role of the Doctor

Edward M. Fitzgerald
bmj.com, 20 Nov 2007 [Full text]

role of doctor

Robert V Koepp
bmj.com, 21 Nov 2007 [Full text]

The role of doctors- a view from beyond!

Paul Thomas
bmj.com, 21 Nov 2007 [Full text]

Core Value - Tough Love from Caring

Richard D Colman
bmj.com, 21 Nov 2007 [Full text]

Doctors' role

E Hassen
bmj.com, 21 Nov 2007 [Full text]

The Role Of The Doctor

Jane.A Calne
bmj.com, 22 Nov 2007 [Full text]

The Role of the Doctor - Diagnosis and treatment

David M Bowker
bmj.com, 23 Nov 2007 [Full text]

Role of the Doctor

M J Pocha
bmj.com, 23 Nov 2007 [Full text]

Redifining thr Doctor's role : The Need and Basis

Dr.Bhalendu S. Vaishnav
bmj.com, 26 Nov 2007 [Full text]

First need to know what makes a doctor to know their role

Taiyyab Mehmood
bmj.com, 29 Nov 2007 [Full text]

Online poll

Find out more on doc2doc >>