Question

Discuss the historical evolution of doctors from a profession of little prestige to the important place they hold in present-day society

Answer 1

• In Rome,medicine was a low level occupation.
• 18th century English physicians were at the margins of the gentry.
• The pay for physicians in the Soviet Union was low because women dominated the profession.
• Barbaric rituals used to heal-bloodletting, leeches-maintained a mistrust of doctors.
• The stethoscope allowed examination of things that could be previously seen or heard.
• Homeopathy started in the 19th century.
• During the mid 19th century doctors could not sue for payments.
• Licensing helped organize a monopoly over the profession.
• Hospitals changed from being placed of death to places of healing.
• Finally,doctors stopped being employees of hospitals, and hospitals now depend on doctors.
• The medical professions have virtually unchallenged economic control of what is now called health care industry.
• The laws of the market have little effect on this industry now,and doctors have a pervasive influence over the demand on the very services they sell.
• Doctors seem able to not only monopolize the market but also control their own numbers and set their own standards of education and professional importance-all with public approval,licensing and government laws.