[Continuing medical education: knowledge, know-how and behavior].
The physician in training is not a student but a professional in practice. His medical education will be permanently confronted with experience: it is a permanent assessment of skills, an ongoing learning process, a "lifelong learning" or "continuous medical education." Medical practice requires a triple acquisition: a knowledge (a science), a know-how (an art), and how to do (a behavior). Medicine is also defined as a practice where "ethics and trust come together." In the present century doctors will have to fight for independence (every medical act is determined by science and ethics with only the patient's best interest in mind), to stand against the progressive erosion of qualifications (technocracy and medical sub-specialties), and to enhance their moral responsibility (scientific and social) through the development of team work. Medicine is more and more a scientific discipline due to the staggering collection of data and advances in technology. This may lead to a gradual decline of medical reasoning among physicians. A broad information campaign should address the following hot issue: doctors are bound by their conscience if not by law to "keep up and upgrade their knowledge." An array of incentive and training initiatives should therefore offset the absence of any legal obligation. Physicians can count on their colleagues in the Continuing Medical Education committee (CME) of the Order of Physicians who are working hard in order to make this objective a successful one.
Saliba
Georges
G
Division de Rhumatologie, Faculté de médecine de l'Université Libanaise. drgeosaliba@hotmail.com
D004502:Education, Medical, Continuing; D004992:Ethics, Medical; D006801:Humans; D013677:Medical Laboratory Science; D009014:Morals; D010817:Physician-Patient Relations