Understanding disruption in the social contract between the medical profession and society in India: a tale of mismatched expectations?

Abstract

A harmonious relationship between the medical profession and the society it serves is essential for any country's health system to fulfill its mandate. Society offers trust, respect, authority, and professional autonomy to doctors, and in return, expects doctors to provide good care and prioritize people's welfare. However, in many parts of the world, we observe growing dissatisfaction, increasingly expressed violently, with the medical profession. Understanding what explains this growing dissatisfaction is necessary to initiate measures to maintain and improve this important social relationship and social contract. Using India as a case, and drawing on insights from qualitative, in-depth in..