Historical Perspectives on Medical Professionalism in the Caribbean

Synopsis: This article explores the historical development of medical professionalism within the Caribbean region providing insight into the factors that have shaped our community of physicians and directions for future development in this increasingly important aspect of medical training. Abstract This paper provides an historical overview of the development of perspectives on medical professionalism and the medical profession in the Caribbean. Two historical periods, colonial and postcolonial, will be explored for continuities and changes in perspectives. Recently, concern over the dilution of medicine’s humanistic qualities has caused increased interest in medical professionalism and ignited a wider movement to reform the profession. Medical education curricula are under renovation as issues of professionalism are now being openly raised among medical practitioners and students to ensure that the medical profession’s service to society is uncompromised. In this context, some scholars have felt that awareness of the history of the medical profession could play a significant role in humanizing medicine and fostering greater professionalism. Much of the emerging discussion on medical professionalism has occurred mainly in developed countries, namely Britain and the United States. The wider developing world, including the Caribbean, has fallen behind in this process. There is a lack of historical or contemporary works addressing the medical profession issues of medical professionalism in the Caribbean. This paper will begin to fill this gap.