The medical profession, societal demands and developing legal standards

The medical profession has, in the past, been accorded an unparalleled level of deference. It was perceived as a profession that can do no wrong and had considerable powers over patients as well as regulating its own medical practice. However, the growth of the medical profession as a public institu...

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Main Authors: Jahn Kassim, Puteri Nemie, Jahn Kassim, Puteri Shanaz
Format: Article
Published: Malayan Law Journal 2014
Online Access:http://psasir.upm.edu.my/id/eprint/35754/
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spelling my.upm.eprints.357542016-02-15T04:58:04Z http://psasir.upm.edu.my/id/eprint/35754/ The medical profession, societal demands and developing legal standards Jahn Kassim, Puteri Nemie Jahn Kassim, Puteri Shanaz The medical profession has, in the past, been accorded an unparalleled level of deference. It was perceived as a profession that can do no wrong and had considerable powers over patients as well as regulating its own medical practice. However, the growth of the medical profession as a public institution and the commercialisation of medical practice have shaped the contours and behaviour of the society in demanding greater obligations and accountability on the part of the medical profession. The increasing awareness amongst the society on medico-legal issues as well as the growth of consumerist attitude towards the provision of medical services has caused the medical profession to be subjected to vociferous criticism if it does not meet the rising expectations of the society. Substandard services have not been well tolerated and paternalistic approaches in medical treatment are considered to be outmoded and inappropriate. Judicial interventions in medical practice have created more rights for patients and consequently, corresponding legal duties for the medical profession to uphold. In the contemporary healthcare setting, the medical profession will not be able to provide infallible services without attaining the highest standards of professionalism and knowledge of the legal standards which they have to adhere. As the medical profession’s obligations transgressed into an environment dominated by societal needs and collectivist cultures, the ideals of professionalism not only require them to have the necessary expertise, dedication, respect, compassion, empathy, honesty, altruism, responsibility, integrity, self-improvement and accountability but also to adhere to the demands of law and highest ethical standards. Malayan Law Journal 2014 Article NonPeerReviewed Jahn Kassim, Puteri Nemie and Jahn Kassim, Puteri Shanaz (2014) The medical profession, societal demands and developing legal standards. Malayan Law Journal, 5. pp. 1-15. ISSN 0025-1283
institution Universiti Putra Malaysia
building UPM Library
collection Institutional Repository
continent Asia
country Malaysia
content_provider Universiti Putra Malaysia
content_source UPM Institutional Repository
url_provider http://psasir.upm.edu.my/
description The medical profession has, in the past, been accorded an unparalleled level of deference. It was perceived as a profession that can do no wrong and had considerable powers over patients as well as regulating its own medical practice. However, the growth of the medical profession as a public institution and the commercialisation of medical practice have shaped the contours and behaviour of the society in demanding greater obligations and accountability on the part of the medical profession. The increasing awareness amongst the society on medico-legal issues as well as the growth of consumerist attitude towards the provision of medical services has caused the medical profession to be subjected to vociferous criticism if it does not meet the rising expectations of the society. Substandard services have not been well tolerated and paternalistic approaches in medical treatment are considered to be outmoded and inappropriate. Judicial interventions in medical practice have created more rights for patients and consequently, corresponding legal duties for the medical profession to uphold. In the contemporary healthcare setting, the medical profession will not be able to provide infallible services without attaining the highest standards of professionalism and knowledge of the legal standards which they have to adhere. As the medical profession’s obligations transgressed into an environment dominated by societal needs and collectivist cultures, the ideals of professionalism not only require them to have the necessary expertise, dedication, respect, compassion, empathy, honesty, altruism, responsibility, integrity, self-improvement and accountability but also to adhere to the demands of law and highest ethical standards.
format Article
author Jahn Kassim, Puteri Nemie
Jahn Kassim, Puteri Shanaz
spellingShingle Jahn Kassim, Puteri Nemie
Jahn Kassim, Puteri Shanaz
The medical profession, societal demands and developing legal standards
author_facet Jahn Kassim, Puteri Nemie
Jahn Kassim, Puteri Shanaz
author_sort Jahn Kassim, Puteri Nemie
title The medical profession, societal demands and developing legal standards
title_short The medical profession, societal demands and developing legal standards
title_full The medical profession, societal demands and developing legal standards
title_fullStr The medical profession, societal demands and developing legal standards
title_full_unstemmed The medical profession, societal demands and developing legal standards
title_sort medical profession, societal demands and developing legal standards
publisher Malayan Law Journal
publishDate 2014
url http://psasir.upm.edu.my/id/eprint/35754/
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score 13.209306