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# Professionalism and the virtues of a doctor

- Topic

Professionalism is a doctor's commitment to patients, colleagues and society, beyond knowing medicine.

Updated Nov 5, 2026

## Key points

- The patient's well-being comes before the doctor's own interest.
- Competence and lifelong learning are ethical duties, not only technical ones.
- Conflicts of interest that cannot be avoided are declared and managed; clinical judgement is not for sale.
- Conscientious objection per the WMA: only if the patient is not left without care; inform them and refer them to another doctor.
- A doctor's virtues: compassion, honesty, prudence, integrity, humility.

## What it is

Professionalism is the set of commitments that make a doctor trustworthy: putting the patient's well-being first, being competent and keeping on learning, telling the truth, keeping confidentiality, managing conflicts of interest and respecting colleagues. Virtue ethics adds that following rules is not enough: character matters. Virtues such as compassion, honesty, prudence, integrity and humility help a doctor act well when rules run out.

## Structure

- With the patient: competent, timely and compassionate care; respect for autonomy; confidentiality.
- With colleagues: respect, teamwork and reporting conditions that put patient safety at risk.
- With society: accurate health information, also on social media, and fair use of resources.
- With oneself: look after one's own health and well-being to practise safely.
- With the profession: certify only what one has verified and keep accurate records.

## In clinical practice

- Accepting gifts or benefits from industry can bias clinical judgement: that is why they are declared or declined.
- Doctor burnout affects patient safety; self-care is part of the professional duty.
- Acknowledging an error to the patient is an act of honesty and integrity.
- Prudence is the virtue of choosing well in the specific case, when rules are not enough.

## Legal framework in Colombia

- In Colombia, Law 23 of 1981 is the code of medical ethics, and breaches are judged by the medical ethics tribunals.

## Test yourself

Think of the answer, then tap the question to see it.

## What should a doctor do with a conflict of interest that cannot be avoided?

Declare it in advance and manage it so it does not sway clinical judgement, according to the WMA International Code of Medical Ethics.

## When is conscientious objection acceptable according to the WMA?

Only if the patient suffers no harm or discrimination: the doctor must tell them promptly and help them find another qualified doctor.

## Why is looking after one's own health a professional duty?

Because a tired or ill doctor puts patient safety at risk; the Declaration of Geneva and the WMA Code both include it.

## Which virtue helps choose well when rules are not enough?

Prudence (practical wisdom).

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## Connections

## Related 1

- [Ethical theories in brief: duty, consequences, virtue, casuistry, care](https://durgical.com/en/medical-ethics/ethical-theories-in-brief-duty-consequences-virtue-casuistry-care/)

[← All of medical ethics](https://durgical.com/en/medical-ethics/)

Educational content on ethics and health law; not legal advice. Laws and case law change: each page links the official text and says when it was last checked. For a real case, read the text in force and ask a lawyer or the medical ethics tribunal.

Sources: [WMA International Code of Medical Ethics](https://www.wma.net/policies-post/wma-international-code-of-medical-ethics/) (World Medical Association, 2022); [Virtue Ethics](https://plato.stanford.edu/entries/ethics-virtue/) (Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy, 2026); [WMA Declaration of Geneva](https://www.wma.net/policies-post/wma-declaration-of-geneva/) (World Medical Association, 2017).

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License: CC BY 4.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/). Cite as: DurgiPedia (durgical.com), https://durgical.com/en/medical-ethics/professionalism-and-the-virtues-of-a-doctor/