[When state authorisation was introduced for medical doctors in Norway].
In 1927, a law was implemented in Norway that for the first time required medical students to be state authorised before they could practice medicine and use the title medical doctor. The question of authorisation split the professional elite, both the Norwegian Medical Association and the Medical Faculty at the University of Oslo. Those very few members of the professional elite that advocated authorisation did, however, convince the government as well as the parliament that authorisation should be given and recalled by the state. State authorisation was first of all aimed at protecting the medical profession against "unfit" members; it was not a question of monopolising medical work or preventing other groups from working within the healthcare services. To put this into context, one should know that there had been a transition from a bureaucratic to a free labour market and most doctors were no longer engaged by the State, but had to practise in a private market. One feared that this would undermine the doctors' authority and status. In this situation, authorisation by the state was considered necessary to safeguard the public's confidence in doctors and their work.
Haave
Per
P
Sykehuset Innlandet Divisjon Psykisk helsevern Divisjonsdirektørens stab Postboks 68 2312 Ottestad * Nåvaerende adresse: Styrmoes vei 50 3043 Drammen. per.haave@iakh.uio.no
D004992:Ethics, Medical / Q000266:history; D049672:History, 19th Century; D049673:History, 20th Century; D006801:Humans; D008007:Licensure, Medical / Q000266:history*; D009664:Norway; D010820:Physicians / Q000266:history* / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence; D012955:Societies, Medical / Q000266:history