Medicine as business and profession.

Area of Science:

• Medical Ethics
• Health Economics
• Philosophy of Medicine

Background:

• The practice of medicine is often debated as a profession versus a business.
• A key conflict arises from viewing the physician-patient relationship in economic versus moral terms.

Purpose of the Study:

• To analyze the incompatibility between economic and moral perspectives in the physician-patient relationship.
• To explore the ethical and economic underpinnings of this conflict.
• To discuss the advantages of a business-oriented approach to medicine.

Main Methods:

• Analysis of utilitarian foundations in economics.
• Examination of deontological foundations in medical ethics.
• Critical analysis of Kenneth Arrow's economic view on the moral status of medicine.

Main Results:

• Identifies utilitarian and deontological frameworks as sources of the business/medicine conflict.
• Highlights the distinction between medicine as a business and as a profession.
• Presents arguments for the benefits of a business model in healthcare.

Conclusions:

• The conflict between medicine as a business and profession stems from differing ethical and economic viewpoints.
• Understanding these foundations is crucial for defining the therapeutic relationship.
• Adopting a business perspective may offer advantages in medical practice.