[Physicians practicing for the legal requirements for eligibility for disability pensions]

For a person to become eligible for a disability pension in Norway the presence of illness must be confirmed by a physician. In theory, the task of confirming illness rests on scientific decision. In view of the fact that there is no formal definition of illness the definition must rest on current clinical practice. However, clinical practice, in addition to being based on present medical knowledge, is influenced by several non-medical factors such as conflicting interests associated with the various roles of the physician. This situation is illustrated by discussing underlying conflicts in consultations between doctors and patients suffering from bodily complaints but with no objective signs of disease. It is argued that eligibility for a disability pension should be dissociated from the requirement for declaration of illness.