title: Physicians' Self-Conceptions of Their Expertise in Statutory Health Insurance and Social Security Systems.
abstract: Medical experts who practice social medicine have a strong ethical approach for their professional positions. Their reports must reflect an objective, independent, high-quality assessment of interactions between health status and the disability of individuals. However, they must simultaneously consider the societal involvement of these individuals when determining the framework of the Statutory Health Insurance and Social Security Systems. Their task is to recommend sociomedical benefits that are tailored to suit personal needs and that respect the individual life situations of the persons involved, thus complementing the efforts of healthcare professionals in clinical settings. The editorial describes the self-conception of this medical specialty on behalf of the German Society of Social Medicine and Prevention (DGSMP). Policy makers in social insurances and social security systems generally must respect independent sociomedical recommendations as a crucial point for further realistic development activities.
authors.affiliation: Medical Director and Deputy CEO, Advisory Board of all Statutory Health and Long Term Care Insurances in Lower Saxony, Professor for Rehabilitation Medicine, Chairman of the Medical Health Advisory Board of the Statutory German Federal Association for Rehabilitation, Germany.
authors.forename: Wolfgang
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Seger
authors.affiliation: Sociomedical Senior Consultant, Advisory Board of all Statutory Health and Long Term Care Insurances in Baden-Wuerttemberg, Germany.
authors.forename: Elisabeth
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Nüchtern
keywords: best practice; medical ethics; social law; social medicine