The future of the global physicians' movement*

Abstract

An international physicians’ movement should promote and protect health at a societal level and in a global context. Among the elements of the ethos of medicine underlying it are: a willingness to accept change when needed; the trust between patient and physician; respect for human dignity; the physician's privilege of confidence; and his/her power to specify and seek to relieve suffering. It is proposed that the corpus of Human Rights, as laid down in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights of 1948 and elsewhere, provides a key framework underlying the work of such a movement, and this is explored in detail using the issue of domestic violence as an example. IPPNW is clearly placed to provide leadership in this movement.