Learning Objectives

• Outline the features of ‘professional’ disciplines and why professionalism is so important to the practice of medicine
• Discuss the responsibilities that come with the privilege of being a doctor making reference to the ‘social contract’
• Discuss the importance of maintaining patient confidentiality, especially as a feature of professionalism
• Describe the elements of truly informed consent, and best practice in obtaining informed consent from patients
• Discuss how professionalism is applied in our everyday clinical interactions with patients, with other health professionals, and with broader community members
• Explain the pressures that may influence clinical decision-making, and professionalism using pharmaceutical marketing as an example

Medical Professionalism

• what are the 3 main features of medical professionalism?
• what are some examples of how it is applied in everyday clinical interactions?

Social Contract

• what are the doctors’ responsibilities to maintain the social contract?
• if the doctor meets societal expectations, what do they get in return from society?
• what does a failure of professionalism lead to?

Patient Confidentiality

• what does patient confidentiality entail?
• how importance is patient confidentiality as a feature of professionalism?
• when is it appropriate to breach confidentiality (2 exemptions)?

Informed Consent