the status, methods, character or standards expected of a professional or of a professional organization, such as reliability, discretion, evenhandedness, and fair play
the status, methods, character or standards of a professional or of a professional organization
Adherence to a set of values comprising both a formally agreed-upon code of conduct and the informal expectations of colleagues, clients and society The key values include acting in a patient's interest, responsiveness to the health needs of society, maintaining the highest standards of excellence in the practice of medicine and in the generation and dissemination of knowledge In addition to medical knowledge and skills, medical professionals should present psychosocial and humanistic qualities such as caring, empathy, humility and compassion, as well as social responsibility and sensitivity to people's culture and beliefs All these qualities are expected of members of highly trained professions The American Board of Internal Medicine's Project Professionalism indicates the most important elements of professionalism to be: altruism, accountability, duty, excellence, honor and integrity, and respect for others