Journal Mobile

Author(s): 
NDC Finlayson
Journal Issue: 
Volume 37: Issue 3: 2007

Format

Abstract

 

The world is now well-used to terrorism, but doctors and the wider public  are  particularly  shocked  when  those  whose  actions  harm  others  are members of our profession. Unfortunately, the record shows that doctors are not strangers to such actions, and while few doctors deliberately harm their patients or  others, we  are  drawn  from  the  societies  in  which  we  live  and  share  the characteristics of those societies.  We may not know why individuals embark on harming others, and we certainly have no evidence-base for preventive action, but we  should  consider  how  the  risks  of  such  actions  might  be  reduced.   Possible actions include better selection for medical school, more liberal education during and after medical school, better supervision of professional aspects of training and correction of deficiencies, and closer scrutiny of untoward occurrences in medical practice. Our  College,  with  its  worldwide  membership  should  support  the development of such measures.

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