Blumenthal David
Massachusetts General Hospital, USA.
Milbank Q. 2002;80(3):525-46, iv. doi: 10.1111/1468-0009.00021.
The information revolution has the potential to reduce the asymmetry of information between patients and doctors and thereby to undermine a central pillar of physicians' claim to professional status: the possession of distinctive competence based on technical know-how selflessly applied and collectively monitored. A close analysis of the information revolution's likely effects suggests that for some patients with some conditions, their access to more and better information will indeed reduce the magic, mystery, and power of the medical profession. However, the information revolution also offers opportunities for physicians to bolster the cognitive and moral bases of professionalism. To seize those opportunities, physicians must master new roles and skills and avoid unacceptable conflicts of interest.
信息革命有可能减少患者与医生之间的信息不对称,从而动摇医生职业地位主张的一个核心支柱:基于无私应用并集体监督的技术诀窍而拥有独特的专业能力。对信息革命可能产生的影响进行仔细分析表明,对于某些患有某些疾病的患者来说,他们获取更多更好的信息确实会减少医学职业的神奇、神秘和权威。然而,信息革命也为医生加强专业精神的认知和道德基础提供了机会。为了抓住这些机会,医生必须掌握新的角色和技能,并避免不可接受的利益冲突。