RT Journal Article
SR Electronic
T1 Medicine as a profession
JF Clinical Medicine
JO Clin Med
FD Royal College of Physicians
SP 246
OP 247
DO 10.7861/clinmedicine.10-3-246
VO 10
IS 3
A1 John W Funder
YR 2010
UL http://www.rcpjournals.org/content/10/3/246.abstract
AB Over half a century ago, a Canadian judge defined a profession in a way that resonates still today, not only for lawyers and doctors, but for the current wide variety of professions and professionals. This article is a reflection on this definition. It briefly considers the historical context within which the knowledge base that characterises a profession evolved and what the various component parts of the judge's definition entail. A final consideration goes beyond the terms of the definition proposed – that of our ethical responsibility as professionals to stand up and be counted and, in the context of the disorder around us, to speak out.