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OP
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Hello everybody! Does somebody know of a word that describes the medical profession from the standpoint of its community service? To expand further, the primary aim of this profession is service to the community as against most other careers that are aimed at profit. Do we have a word or phrase that zeroes in on this primary aspect of medicine and that will be an apt counterpoint to 'commercial enterprise' or 'free market enterprise'?
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Joined: Apr 2000
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Carpal Tunnel
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Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Apr 2000
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It's not a term I would use myself, but I have heard "the caring professions".
Bingley
Bingley
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Thank u Bingley. But it needs to be much stronger than that. I need a zinger of a word/phrase for an article that is much overdue now, on the demerits of commercial enterprises such as telemedicine. One word/phrase that will drive the point home.
M
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Carpal Tunnel
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Carpal Tunnel
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I have never heard such a word. And if there were one, in thirty years of reading as many
medical journals as I could manage, I think I would have seen and remembered it.
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Joined: Mar 2000
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Carpal Tunnel
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Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Mar 2000
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Is this a cross between English and Dutch?
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Pooh-Bah
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Pooh-Bah
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 1,819 |
"Altruistic"?
As a physician at work since 6:00 AM I'd like to add "sleepy."
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Thanks a bunch to everyone who tried. I still, however, have no word and no clue. I think not-for-profit somewhat sums it up, but can be so easily confused with non profit, that I am loathe to use it. And altruistic, however close, is somewhat more akin to charity set ups and medicine is most definitely not that! Shall still keep looking though and if I find something will post it here.
M
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Joined: Aug 2001
Posts: 10,535 Likes: 1
Carpal Tunnel
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Carpal Tunnel
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Actually I think "professional" fits. Or at least it used to, in its older definition. Per Mr. Justice Brandeis:
The characteristics of a profession are that it seeks to
--preserve a body of knowledge
--expand the body of knowledge
--teach the body of knowledge
--set standards of practice and enforce them
and
--value performance over reward
These aspects have been largely cheapened and diluted recently, I fear, now that everybody's a professional. But that's what it was supposed to mean.
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Pooh-Bah
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Pooh-Bah
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al·tru·ism n. Unselfish concern for the welfare of others; selflessness. Zoology. Instinctive cooperative behavior that is detrimental to the individual but contributes to the survival of the species. [French altruisme, probably from Italian altrui, someone else, from Latin alter, other. See al-1 in Indo-European Roots.] altru·ist n. altru·istic adj. altru·isti·cal·ly adv. Source: The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition Copyright © 2000 by Houghton Mifflin Company. http://dictionary.reference.com/search?q=altruism altruism Regard for others, both natural and moral; devotion to the interests of others; brotherly kindness; opposed to egoism or selfishness. Origin: F. Altruisme (a word of Comte's), It. Altrui of or to others, fr. L. Alter another.
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"Is this a cross between English and Dutch?"
Ik think so.
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