Self-governance from the perspective of the chamber of physicians

Abstract

The self-government of physicians in Germany is an enormous privilege for the profession. The core tasks of medical associations are the design of the professional framework, specialist and continuing education, and quality assurance. A look at history reveals important developments within the profession and its changing relationships with politics and also the different systems of government and constantly changing professional policy orientations, which are continuously changing and must be permanently shaped by the medical profession. In particular, the relationship to health insurance companies, to the economy, and to politics should be mentioned here. What is new, on the other hand, are the changing expectations in the medical profession, the shortage of skilled workers, management and care structures, and new types of ownership, for example, in centers providing medical care. The basic ethical code of physicians-scientific knowledge, experience, personal attitude, and human compassion-continue to be of utmost importance. Taking into account the rapid developments within modern medicine and the increasing expectations of society, additional qualifications that go beyond the historically traditional characteristics of the "good physician" are needed today and in the future. These new demands complement and deepen the relationship between patients, society, and the medical profession. In order to practice personalized medicine, the profession needs to be free from all sociopolitical directives.