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Previous Volume 342:1288-1290 April 27, 2000 Number 17 Next

	Since this article has no abstract, we have provided an extract of the first 100 words of the full text and any section headings.

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To the Editor: The article by Wynia et al. (Nov. 18 issue)¹ is a praiseworthy attempt to describe comprehensively the emergence of medical professionalism, but it omits the important role of the government in defining and licensing the profession in a democratic society.

Historically, society has attempted to assure its citizens of safe and effective medical care through the licensure of the profession. Beyond licensure, it has relied on the ethical values of the profession and its social contract with society to provide an adequate supply of physicians through medical education and training. Despite problems, this social contract has worked . . . [Full Text of this Article]

References

This article has been cited by other articles:

• Lowenstein, E. (2004). Cardiac Anesthesiology, Professionalism and Ethics: A Microcosm of Anesthesiology and Medicine. Anesth. Analg. 98: 927-934 [Abstract] [Full Text]