Session 10 - Professions and Professionalisation

Question 1

What is professionalisation?

Answer 1

Social and historical process that results in an occupation becoming a profession

Question 2

What is a profession?

Answer 2

An occupation that is able to make distinctive claims about its work practices and status

Question 3

Describe the professionalisation of medicine

Answer 3

1. Doctors used to cater only for the wealthy
2. Apothecary’s Act - Compulsory training
3. GMC formed - GMC registers doctors

Question 4

What is professional socialisation?

Answer 4

Process through which new entrants acquire their professional identites through:

1. Formal curriculum - knowledge
2. informal curriculum - attitudes and beliefs (norms and values)

Question 5

What is self regulation?

Answer 5

High level of skill and knowledge involved in professional’s work therefore non-professionals cannot evaluate or regulate it

Question 6

What are 3 criticisms of self regulation?

Answer 6

• Doctors discouraged from raising concerns about each other - pack mentality
• Control is informal - quiet chats etc. rather than a formal enquiry
• Favours the interest of doctors over patients

Question 7

How is the licensing of doctors by the GMC controlled?

Answer 7

Doctors hold a license which needs revalidation every 5 years

Question 8

What is fitness to practice? Who gets gets the last say on FTP matters?

Answer 8

Misconduct leads to enquiry by GMC about FTP

GMC can be ovverruled by council for healthcare regulatory excellence

Question 9

Who governs the GMC?

Answer 9

Council for Healthcare Regulatory Excellence