Doctors – paradoxes and possibilities

The role of ‘doctor’ has many possibilities to benefit mankind.Medicine can be a rewarding and fulfilling career. However,although much has been achieved by doctors, there is also thescope for them to do harm. In this review the author exploresthe five key roles that may be attributed to doctors: to relievesymptoms; to protect against pathogens; to guard againstthose who may be dangerous; to root out charlatans and tosupport the social order. The review serves to highlight thegood that is done by medical practitioners but it also identifiescertain acts of omission or commission by which doctors canharm the very people their profession is sworn to serve. Foranyone involved in healthcare this review raises issues thatare seldom discussed in print.