Medicine and Morality: Crises in the History of a Profession

Medical professionals are expected to act in the interest of patients, the public, and the pursuit of medical knowledge. But what happens when doctors’ supposed impartiality comes under fire? Helen Kang examines three moments in the history of the medical profession in Canada, spanning more than 150 years, when doctors’ moral and scientific authority was questioned. She shows that the profession was compelled to re-examine its priorities, strategize in order to regain credibility, and redefine what it means to be a good doctor. Medicine and Morality reveals that the moral and scientific standards in medicine are determined in direct relation to, not in spite of, conflict of interest.