PT  - JOURNAL ARTICLE
AU  - Andrew JT George
AU  - Catherine E Urch
AU  - Alan Cribb
TI  - A virtuous framework for professional reflection
AID  - 10.7861/fhj.2022-0121
DP  - 2023 Feb 03
TA  - Future Healthcare Journal
PG  - fhj.2022-0121
4099  - http://www.rcpjournals.org/content/early/2023/02/03/fhj.2022-0121.short
4100  - http://www.rcpjournals.org/content/early/2023/02/03/fhj.2022-0121.full
AB  - Reflection on professional practice (either individually or in dialogue with peers or seniors) will often focus on doctors’ skills. This approach emphasises compliance and competence. This paper suggests that an alternative and useful lens for professional reflection and development can be drawn from the framework of virtue ethics to encourage consideration of the ultimate purpose of medicine, and the character or virtues needed to be a good doctor. This alternative approach supports doctors to reflect on and develop their virtues, including practical wisdom, which orchestrates the doctor's skills and virtues. This emphasis on purpose and character within professional reflection promotes excellence, rather than just competency, and engages with what motivated most doctors to enter medicine.