Abstract

In his presentation, Professor Marshall will describe the rationale, background and development of Rethinking Medicine as a new professionally-led movement.

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The application of the medical model, focusing on diseases and doctors, has achieved an enormous amount and will continue to do so, but there is a growing realisation that it can cause harm, is expensive and is not always effective. Doctors are responding by engaging with activities that lie outside the traditional remit of medicine; they are rethinking their roles and responsibilities.

Rethinking Medicine is in essence about four things:

• Challenging our propensity to use a disease-based medical model to solve problems for which it doesn’t add value

• Recognising the social determinants of illness and well-being and, where appropriate, using social interventions and community assets in place of medical ones

• Changing the nature of our relationship with patients, citizens and the public, sharing expertise, decisions and influence

• Accepting the responsibility of clinical professionals to create a conducive environment in which clinical medicine is practiced.