Origin and precondition of medical self-regulation: State philosophy and medical professionalism in France

ABSTRACT

In order to ensure the rights of medical self-regulation, what precondition should be fulfilled by the Korean Medical Association (KMA) or any other independent medical association or organization? Regulatory authority is defined as an exercise of legal power by the State for the rights and interests of the people. Thus, if Korean physicians seek to regulate themselves, on the one hand, the KMA or any other independent medical association or organization should achieve delegation from the State, and on the other, Korean medical professionalism should fully reflect the State philosophy. This paper aims to examine the origin and precondition of medical self-regulation in French State philosophy and French medical professionalism. For this purpose, the following topics are covered (1) Who was involved in the establishment of the French State philosophy and what was the role of French physicians? (2) By whom and how was French State philosophy introduced in American State philosophy? (3) What medical ideas and values are included in the Declaration of Human and Civic Rights of 1789? (4) How is French State philosophy emblematized by three key values-freedom, equality, and fraternity-incorporated in French medical professionalism? Dealing with these topics, this paper claims, on the basis of French history and philosophy, that the most important precondition of medical self-regulation is for medical professionalism to sufficiently reflect the State philosophy, and consequently the KMA or any other independent medical association or organization representing Korean physicians should willingly be involved in shaping the Korean State philosophy.