Physician’s Role &

Responsibilities towards the

society

ESIC Medical College, Hyderabad

The four essential qualities of a physician, as per Charak Samhita
are:
1. Shrute Paryavadatwam - excellence in medical knowledge
2. Vahusho Drishtakarmata - an extensive practical experience
3. Dakshyam - dexterity and
4. Shoucha - purity of mind and character
Role of Doctor
• Medical Expert
• Communicator
• Collaborator
• Scholar
• Professional
• Health Advocate
• Manager/Administrator
Medical Expert
• perform diagnostic/therapeutic activities
based on Evidence Based Medicine
• develop mastery of creative solutions based
on health-scientific knowledge, skills and
abilities.
Communicator
• Respectful rapport with the parties
involved such as patients/relatives,
colleagues and other collaboration
partners
• The physicians' communication is
driven by their ability and will to
see, listen to, understand and
respect their fellow human beings.
Collaborator
• Encourage initiatives to participate and implement disciplinary and
interdisciplinary collaboration/teamwork to deliver the core task at
individual, organisational and societal level.
• Appreciation of and with respect for the diversity of everyone
Manager / administrator / organizer
• Leadership
• Supervision of others, work planning
and prioritization of available
resources (administrative
management)
• Scientific and strategic management
 Ravindra Kolhe and Smita Kolhe

Health advocate
• Motivate and influence health
behaviours of the individual and the
system as a whole
• Encourage health-promotion measures
• Enable individuals to take responsibility
for their own health and the health of
others.
Scholar / researcher / teacher
• As scholars/researchers/teachers, physicians
translate research into evidence-based clinical
practice.
• Critically evaluate and pose questions about
their own and others' practice and must apply a
scholarly approach in search for answers
• Apply relevant training methods and commit
themselves to creating a positive learning
environment.
Professional
• Personal integrity.
• Acknowledging the ethical dilemmas and
the complexity, unpredictability and
uncertainty.
• Physicians respect the integrity and
autonomy of patients
• Being role models for others
• Recognize their own limits of expertise
and seek the help of others when needed.
• Dr. John Snow (1813–1858) was a London physician best known for
his epidemiological observations on cholera, eventually published
as On the Mode of Communication of Cholera. 
• Snow's observations of the distribution of cholera cases led him to
suspect that source of the disease was the Broad Street public water
pump.
• After he appeared before the city's Board of Guardians to make his
case, the pump handle was removed—and the epidemic ended.
• Thus, Snow became an activist. He went beyond his own very
considerable responsibilities as a practitioner, which included the
administration of anesthesia to Queen Victoria during childbirth.
• His display of courage and commitment led to his recognition as one
of the fathers of epidemiology.1
International Physicians for the Prevention
of Nuclear War

• The group that contributed to the end of the Cold War.

• For its efforts on this front, the International Physicians for the
Prevention of Nuclear War won the 1985 Nobel Peace Prize.
• In "regular practice settings," physicians can:
1. Discuss health issues with patients and colleagues.
2. Work to improve care in their institutions.
3. Improve access for minorities.
4. Volunteer or offer care free of charge.

• In the local, regional, national, and global communities, physicians can:

1. Work on public awareness about key issues.
2. Engage in public advocacy (eg, letters, petitions, lobbying).
3. Push medical societies to act on important public health matters.
4. Participate in political organizations.
5. Work for a cause or a candidate.
Questions for Discussion

• What do you consider to be the "professional obligations" you have or

will have toward your local community as a physician? Toward
regional, national, or global communities?
• How should physicians prioritize health goals on a societal scale?
• How can physicians pursue their individual concerns, ideas, and
priorities within organizations?
References
• The Physician as Health Advocate: Translating the Quest for... : Acade
mic Medicine (lww.com)
• The seven roles of physicians © Danish Health and Medicines
Authority, 2013. Danish Health and Medicines Authority, Axel Heides
Gade 1 2300, Copenhagen, S Denmark URL: http://www.sst.dk
• https://www.sst.dk/en/news/2013/~/
media/39d3e216bcbf4a9096b286ee44f03691.ashx