Korean Journal of Medical Ethics
The Korean Society for Medical Ethics
Article

사회윤리학의 관점에서 본, 의사의 전문직 역할도덕과 '초연한 관심'*

강명신1,*
Myoung-Sheen KANG1,*
1연세대학교 치과대학 BK21 치의과학사업단
1BK 21 Project for Yonsei Dental Sciences, Yonsei University College of Dentistry
*연세대학교 치과대학 BK21 치의과학사업단. 02-2228-3018. mskang68@yuhs.ac

ⓒ Copyright 2007 The Korean Society for Medical Ethics. This is an Open-Access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution Non-Commercial License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/) which permits unrestricted non-commercial use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.

Published Online: Dec 31, 2007

ABSTRACT

This article attempts to characterize the appropriate role of doctors in relation to their patients. A guiding question is “What is the relation between the doctor’s role and the doctor’s professional ethics?” Several authors have described the possible conflicts between role morality and common morality and have stressed the importance of the former. This article defends the idea that the appropriate attitude of doctors toward their patients is detached concern, which combines detachment and compassionate care, and represents the impersonal and personal aspects of a doctor’s role. The question of whether detached concern could ever work as an ethical prescription is also explored. The answer provided is that detached concern should function, not as a direct ethical prescription, but as an overarching attitudinal norm for medical professionals.

Keywords: 전문직 역할; 역할도덕; 일반도덕; 전문직 윤리; 초연; 고통을 함께 하려는 관심
Keywords: Professional role; Role morality; Common morality; Professional ethics; Detachment; Compassionate concern