George Bernard Shaw, The Doctor’s Dilemma (1911)īernard Shaw’s cynicism may well be anachronistic given the patient-centred and shared decision-making approach favoured in medicine today. 'All professions are a conspiracy against the laity'. But the difference is not simply that one is paid and the other is not, because a ‘professional’ performance is one which is good, polished and of a high quality, whereas an ‘amateurish’ performance is the opposite – however much or little payment might have been received.Ī logical conclusion is that if a person intends to rely upon a certain trade or occupation as their main source of income, then they would need to be proficient at it, and be recognised as being so.

The distinction is usually drawn between a professional (ie, someone who earns a living from their trade or occupation), and an amateur (ie, someone who might do the same or a similar thing, but without remuneration). Another helpful description is that of “a trade or occupation pursued for higher motives, to a proper standard”. 'A professional is someone who can do his best work when he doesn’t feel like it' -Īlistair Cooke, American journalist (1908-2004)Ī profession can be defined as a vocation or ‘calling’, especially one involving a degree of skill, learning or science.

But what do we mean by professionalism? And how much bearing does this definition have on the behaviours expected of a doctor? Firstly, we need to be clear about exactly what a profession is. Individually, some doctors may fall short of the mark.

They remain the most trusted profession among the public, which has been the case for many years. As a collective whole, doctors are regarded as “professionals” both by the public and by their peers.

Torrent doctors in training step 2