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Biomedical subjects

Jos V M Welie

Publications and source records attributed to Jos V M Welie.

8 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2004

Is dentistry a profession? Part 1. Professionalism defined.

Individual dentists and organized dentistry alike invariably claim to be (members of) a profession. This label is cherished because it suggests special social, moral and political status. However, almost every self-respecting occupation nowadays claims to be a profession. Hence, the question arises as to what exactly is meant when dentists claim to be professionals and, more important, whether they can justifiably lay claim to this label. Rather than reviewing the manifold and divergent discussions in the literature about professionalism, the author proposes--in this first of 3 consecutive articles--a definition of the term "profession" that is based on the literal origins of the word. Next, it is argued that a profession arises out of a social contract between the public and a service occupation that professes to give priority to the existential needs of the people served. In the second article, the author deduces several professional responsibilities. The third and final article examines whether and to what extent dentistry fulfills these responsibilities and outlines some future challenges.

Clinical Competence↗
PubMed2004

Is dentistry a profession? Part 2. The hallmarks of professionalism.

In this second in a series of 3 articles, the author builds on the definition of professionalism developed in the first article, arguing that the social contract between the profession and the public entails a collective responsibility of the members of the profession to serve the public good. Several specific professional duties are deduced, such as the duties to attain and maintain competence, to review one's peers, and to serve all in need of expert care. The third and final article will examine whether and to what extent dentistry fulfills these responsibilities and outlines some future challenges.

Clinical Competence↗
PubMed2004

Is dentistry a profession? Part 3. Future challenges.

In 2 earlier articles a definition of professionalism was developed, and several specific professional responsibilities were deduced. This third and final article in the series examines whether dentistry qualifies as a profession. On various levels, the professionalism of dentistry is found wanting. However, attaining the status of a profession is a work in progress, which means that each profession will always have some deficiencies. The author concludes that dentistry qualifies as a profession but that it is also exhibiting a trend toward once again becoming a business (as it was before the 19th century). For the sake of honesty with the public, dentistry must make a choice between these 2 models.

Clinical Competence↗
PubMed2003

Ignatius of Loyola on medical education. Or: Should today's Jesuits continue to run health sciences schools?

There are present 28 Jesuit colleges and universities in the United States, which together offer more than 50 health sciences degree programs. But as the Society's membership is shrinking and the financial risks involved in sponsoring health sciences education are rising, the question arises whether the Society should continue to sponsor health sciences degree programs. In fact, at least eight Jesuit health sciences schools have already closed their doors. This paper attempts to contribute to the resolution of this urgent question by reexamining Ignatius own views on health sciences education and, more specifically, his prohibition of the Society's sponsoring medical education. It concludes on the basis of an historical analysis of Ignatius' views that there is insufficient support for today's Jesuits to maintain their engagement in medical and health care education.

Catholicism↗
PubMed2003

The ethics of roles.

A distinction is made between ethical reasoning and moral behavior. Ethics courses in dental schools can aspire to improve the ability of students to reflect on ethical alternatives, but the most powerful influence for professional behavior comes from the role modeling of faculty members. The psycho-social, pedagogical, meta-ethical, and moral implications of faculty roles are examined. An example is given of how faculty assume this responsibility as they accept membership in the school community.

Education, Dental↗
PubMed2002

The relationship between medicine's internal morality and religion.

In the face of managed care and market economies infringing on the practice of medicine, reducing its autonomy and determining the moral guidelines for medical practice, many physicians are calling out for a return to what is perceived as a traditional medical ethic. Many religiously motivated critics of certain modern developments in medicine have made similar appeals. These calls are best understood as an attempt to define medicine as a practice that is necessarily ethical in nature, a practice the moral basis of which is internal to that practice. This article examines and assesses this definition of medicine in reference to Aristotle's division of human undertakings into three distinct categories: theory, poieisis (i.e., production), and praxis. It is concluded that medicine can be understood as a praxis (as opposed to a theory or production, both of which are morally neutral), because the practice of medicine, and all of its constitutive acts, can only be explained and assessed in reference to health, which is itself a final good and hence of moral value. Such an understanding would immunize medicine against usurpation by the free market. However, by the same token it would also dissociate medicine from all other moralities external to it, including those grounded in faith and religion.

Christianity↗