The Medical Profession, Moral Entrepreneurship, Moral Panics, and Social Control.

As a society governed by organizations, associations,  institutions and regulatory bodies, the medical profession is not immune to “moral panics” and “moral crusades.”

A threat to patient care or the values of the profession can be identified and amplified.   A buildup of public concern fueled by media attention ensues creating a need for governing bodies to act. Medical Professionalism and the Public Health has been assailed.

Unbeknownst to the general population and most members of the medical profession at large, certain groups have gained tremendous sway within organizational and regulatory medicine. Through  moral entrepreneurship they have gained authority and become  the primary definers of the governance of the medical profession and the social control of  doctors.  To benefit their own interests they have fostered and fueled “moral panics.” Exhorting authorities to fight these  threats by any means necessary  they have successfully made and enforced rules and  regulations and introduced new self-serving definitions and tools that neither help doctors nor protect the public.