The Development and Professional Outlook of a medical Doctor Assignment 2022

THE DEVELOPMENT AND PROFESSIONAL OUTLOOK OF A MEDICAL DOCTOR
THE DEVELOPMENT AND PROFESSIONAL OUTLOOK OF A MEDICAL DOCTOR
Name of the Student
Name of the University
Author’s Note

1THE DEVELOPMENT AND PROFESSIONAL OUTLOOK OF A MEDICAL DOCTOR
Executive Summary
The medical doctors with their profound knowledge on human systems apply scientific
evidence based skills to empower people by aiding their well being during times of ailments.
The medical doctors have a powerful social role along with high status and respect in the
society. To ensure that this stature and respect remains untarnished, the medical doctors must
abide by the code of ethics and maintain professionalism during practicing medicine.
Recruitment of more women into the medical field will uplift the profession and healthcare
system worldwide. Healthcare system must be under government control to reduce excessive
privatization and commercialization of medical practice. Although the society is sometimes
affected by unfortunate events, still the humanity requires medical doctors to treat them to
better health during ailments. The science of medicine is eternally along with technological
developments and hand in hand with the societal changes, therefore it is imperative to
recognize the potential errors and challenges and eradicate them for the betterment of the
society in the forthcoming future.

2THE DEVELOPMENT AND PROFESSIONAL OUTLOOK OF A MEDICAL DOCTOR
Table of Contents
Introduction................................................................................................................................3
Discussion..................................................................................................................................3
The emergence of medical doctors........................................................................................3
Main duties of a medical doctor.............................................................................................4
Social responsibility of a medical doctor...............................................................................5
Status of a medical doctor......................................................................................................6
Power position of medical doctors.........................................................................................6
Professionalism of medical doctors.......................................................................................7
Changes in the professional outlook of medical doctors.......................................................7
Recommendations towards well maintenance of the medical practice......................................8
Conclusion..................................................................................................................................8
References................................................................................................................................10

3THE DEVELOPMENT AND PROFESSIONAL OUTLOOK OF A MEDICAL DOCTOR
Introduction
Medical doctor is responsible for the maintenance and restoration of human health
through the careful practice of remedial strategies and medicines. The medical doctors face
the challenges of accurately identifying and critically diagnosing diseases and treating the
ailments accordingly. Medical doctors are known for their high level of expertise and are a
well respected human service worldwide.
Good medical practice is achieved by attentively listening to the patients along with
understanding their health issues and problems followed by cautious utilization of their
medical science expertise to suggest possible treatment for the ailment. As the human body is
composed of multiple systems, system specific specialization of medical science is present
which results in doctors who after completion of general medicine, obtains specific system
based specialization to develop additional proficiency in that precise human system.
The aim of the study is to discuss the emergence of medical doctors, the main duties
and the social responsibility of a medical doctor, the status and the power position of a
medical doctor, the professionalism and the changes in the professional outlook of medical
doctors along with discussion of the recommendations towards the well maintenance of the
medical practice.
Discussion
The emergence of medical doctors
Evidence of medical practice along with use of medical traditions can be traced back
to 600 BC in Egypt, India, Babylon and China (Ackerknecht & Haushofer, 2016). The
renowned Greek physician Hippocrates of Kos (460 BC – 370 BC) is considered as the

4THE DEVELOPMENT AND PROFESSIONAL OUTLOOK OF A MEDICAL DOCTOR
“father of modern medicine”. The Hippocratic Corpus refers to a collection of approximately
seventy medical works of Hippocrates and his disciples and students from ancient Greece.
The Hippocratic Oath is the pledge written in the 5th century BC in the ancient Greece and
that oath is the direct inspiration for pledge that the physicians are obligated to vow, while
joining the medical profession even today (Castiglioni, 2019).
Surgical practice by medical doctors developed around late 10th century. Rogerius
(1140–1195) was a Salernitan surgeon from Italy who first wrote a book on medicine and
surgical practices entitled Practica Chirurgiae or The Practice of Surgery around 1180 AD.
The universities started systematic medical and surgical training of the physicians around
1220 in Italy (Ackerknecht & Haushofer, 2016).
Public health measures were also taken up by medical doctors and helped in the
societal sanitation developed to reduce spread of germs. Government bodies employed
medical professionals to help design systematic sanitary measures. Research centers with
advanced medical science opened in early 20th century and were often allied with major
health departments and hospitals. Antibiotics and vaccines were developed and modified
during the mid-20th whereas advancements in chemistry, pathology, genetics, biotechnology
and radiography followed soon after which are closely associated with the progress of
medical doctors (Castiglioni, 2019). Elizabeth Blackwell, M.D. (1821-1910) was the first
woman medical doctor who practiced medicine professionally (Atkinson, 2018). Women
entered the profession as nurses from the 1870s and as medical doctors around 1950s.
Main duties of a medical doctor
The medical doctors bridge the gap that is created during illness between humanity
and science. The application of acquired medical and scientific knowledge on the human
health is the most crucial feature of medical practice. The main responsibilities of medical

5THE DEVELOPMENT AND PROFESSIONAL OUTLOOK OF A MEDICAL DOCTOR
doctors include examination of the patient; identification of the causal factor, correct
diagnosis of the ailment followed my accurate treatment and care plan for the patient. Human
body system based specializations such as cardiology, urology, neurology, and gynecology
and so on are present for critical diagnosis and assessment of specific medical cases or else
the medical doctors practice as general physicians.
The medical doctors diagnose patients based on physical examinations and diagnostic
tests. Based on the findings, line of treatment along with accurate medications is prescribed.
Patients generally visit pediatricians or general practitioners at first and they generally posses
a wide and varied range of medical knowledge, and they might recommend a specialized
doctor in case of special requirements. The doctors generally work with nurses and special
aides as a team who assist the doctor and helps him during treating a patient.
Social responsibility of a medical doctor
The medical doctors work to empower people by aiding their well being. The medical
doctors have a powerful social role in the community although for centuries, the code of
medical ethics has been focused on the proper behavior of the medical doctor towards an
individual patient while the social responsibilities and policies of the health departments and
services has been set by politicians and leaders. With the rise of private practice of the
medical doctors and extensive commercialization of medicine, governments have started
applying various strategies in order to restrain physicians from carrying out extensive private
practice and inducing them towards more socially responsible practice. However, such
extreme policies and pressurizing scenarios would not be necessary if a socially oriented code
was followed which is both ethical and economically beneficial to both the doctors and
patients.

6THE DEVELOPMENT AND PROFESSIONAL OUTLOOK OF A MEDICAL DOCTOR
Status of a medical doctor
The medical doctors hold a powerful and a high complex status in today’s world. The
medical doctors are given immense respect and compared to God when they can deliver
wondrous treatment which is almost miraculous. At the same time, they are blamed when
their line of treatment fails to bring relief to the patient. However, the medical doctors enjoy
an autonomous professional status and a high position in the society. Society’s expectations
from the medical doctors are endless and at times unattainable (Cruess, Cruess & Steinert,
2016). The advancement of medical science has successfully extended the human life span
while preventing various diseases and effectively postponing effects of major and chronic
diseases. In diseases which lacks full cure and has constricted treatment plans namely
malignant cancers, dementia, diabetes, AIDS and so on, the society expects an empathetic
doctor who will be able to reduce the discomforts and pain of the suffering.
Power position of medical doctors
Medicine and therapeutic care is related to feelings and experiences of individuals in
their most extraordinary times of pain, anxiety, fear and doubt. The medical doctors have
almost full access of that individual in their moments of extreme vulnerability. It requires the
medical doctors to gain their utmost trust, co-operation and faith so as to deliver the best
possible solution (Dornan et al., 2015). The established high power position by the medial
doctors deserves respect as well as ability to utilize that power in the most accurate and
correct manner. Although there are instances of misuse of the power by the medical doctors
in providing maltreatment in abusive and derogatory ways along with exploitation of power
for superfluous financial monetary gains. It is essential for the restriction of excess power of
the medical doctors so as to achieve the best quality, egalitarian, healthcare focused patient
centered treatment and care.

7THE DEVELOPMENT AND PROFESSIONAL OUTLOOK OF A MEDICAL DOCTOR
Professionalism of medical doctors
The fine balance between professionalism and medical care is extremely delicate.
Professionalism implies numerous commitments namely to the patients, to the fellow
professionals and colleagues, to the healthcare system so that all is aimed at providing the
best care for the patients collectively (Cruess, Cruess & Steinert, 2016). The medical doctors
struggle to maintain sufficient distance from the patients, so as to not get emotionally
attached which might affect crucial judgments and effective medical care. Evidence suggests
that robust professionalism might lead to inevitable improvement of healthcare and the
patients are well aware that poor professionalism of the medical doctor reflects poor medical
care. The values and professionalism embraced by the medical doctors earns them respect
and allows them to take the most difficult verdict during the times of adverse situations (Jha
et al., 2015). This is also guided by the knowledge, expertise and skills acquired by the
doctors through education and experience to take scientifically sound, evidence based
judgments for the betterment of the patients.
Changes in the professional outlook of medical doctors
Profound professionalization in the occupation of medical doctors has occurred in the
late 20th century (Dornan et al., 2015). High quality medical care systems depend on both
competent health organizations as well as efficient health care teams. But at times, due to
extreme work pressure and insurmountable amount of occupational stress, doctors fail to
perform efficiently and neglect at work is noted leading to deterioration of the
professionalism of the medical doctors. The service pressures along with questionable morale
if ever highlighted must be addressed carefully and immediately to reduce or control its
impact on the medical doctor and the profession.

8THE DEVELOPMENT AND PROFESSIONAL OUTLOOK OF A MEDICAL DOCTOR
Although the society is sometimes affected by unfortunate events, still the humanity
requires medical doctors to treat them to better health during ailments (Cruess, Cruess &
Steinert, 2016). The science of medicine is eternally along with technological developments
and hand in hand with the societal changes, therefore it is imperative to recognize the
potential errors and challenges and eradicate them for the betterment of the society in the
forthcoming future.
Recommendations towards well maintenance of the medical practice
More recruitment of women all over the world into the medical profession is of
utmost importance. Feminisation will not only alter the status and power of the medical
profession, but will also uplift the society in matters of women, maternal health and sanitation
issues (Atkinson, 2018).
The entire healthcare system must be under the government, worldwide, to maintain
equality in the society, reduce private practice and reduce excess power of the medical
doctors and will also benefit the doctors by reducing work pressure. Healthcare system must
be under government control to reduce excessive privatization and commercialization of
medical practice (Jha et al., 2015). The efficient medical doctors must be paid generously for
their service to the society and this would also aid the doctors in providing best possible care.
Over working the medical doctors along with overloading them with service pressure
must be strictly avoided so that medical doctors can perform effectively and whole heartedly.
Conclusion
Therefore, it can be concluded, that the medical doctors are an indispensible part of
the society since time immemorial. The medical doctors with their profound knowledge on

9THE DEVELOPMENT AND PROFESSIONAL OUTLOOK OF A MEDICAL DOCTOR
human systems apply scientific evidence based skills to empower people by aiding their well
being during times of ailments. The medical doctors have a powerful social role along with
high status and respect in the society. To ensure that this stature and respect remains
untarnished, the medical doctors must abide by the code of ethics and maintain
professionalism during practicing medicine. Recruitment of more women into the medical
field will uplift the profession and healthcare system worldwide. Thus to conclude, the
balance between professionalism of the doctors and their service to the society must be well
maintained for the betterment of humanity.

10THE DEVELOPMENT AND PROFESSIONAL OUTLOOK OF A MEDICAL DOCTOR
References
Ackerknecht, E. H., & Haushofer, L. (2016). A short history of medicine. JHU Press.
Atkinson, P. (2018). The Clinical Experience, (1997): The Construction and Reconstrucion
of Medical Reality. Routledge.
Castiglioni, A. (2019). A history of medicine. Routledge.
Cruess, R. L., Cruess, S. R., & Steinert, Y. (Eds.). (2016). Teaching medical professionalism:
supporting the development of a professional identity. Cambridge University Press.
Dornan, T., Pearson, E., Carson, P., Helmich, E., & Bundy, C. (2015). Emotions and identity
in the figured world of becoming a doctor. Medical Education, 49(2), 174-185.
Jha, V., Mclean, M., Gibbs, T. J., & Sandars, J. (2015). Medical professionalism across
cultures: A challenge for medicine and medical education. Medical teacher, 37(1), 74-
80.