The Weaponization of Medical Professionalism

However, the downside to this vagary is that it allows for the weaponization of professionalism, leaving space for “professionals” to reject certain approaches to health care. Further, since the concept of medical professionalism itself was devised by and upholds the tradition of the most powerful voices in the field—most generally wealthy white men—this weaponization can damage the diversity of appearances (hijabs, African American dreadlocks), mannerisms (slang with patients from a low socioeconomic status), and proposed changes to health care administration of minority groups in medicine. Instead of being used flexibly, professionalism can be twisted to keep medicine rigid and conforming to the standards of the powerful.