Communication and professionalism

The text of this lecture was presented in July 1999 at the international Chicago meeting on Communication in Medicine. The topic 'Communication and professionalism' has been approached by drawing on the work at the Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC). The challenge is to align medical education content with societal needs, practice patterns and scientific developments. In this perspective, the goals of medicine have been presented, however, also related to experienced real life situations, the changes within medical practice and the erosion of the doctor-patient relationship. It is stressed that we must produce excellent clinicians, who have good communication skills, and being able to use those skills in the care of their patients. This implies that the current focus on communication in medicine is very important in the medical education.