Description

Today, the medical profession enjoys
high social and economic status
by virtue of assured fees, self-promotion,
and, of course, influence over life and
death. Physicians control entry into their
profession by setting educational and
licensing requirements, and by regulating
and disciplining professional behaviour
with minimum interference from nonmedical
bodies. The profession also protects
itself by closely watching and limiting
the activities of kindred societies. In
these measures, physicians have generally
enjoyed support from public and
government agencies.