Objectives for medical education: expectations of society

Since health care and the practice of medicine have become major topics for social and political comment a variety of expectations have emerged which, in a sense, define an idealized image of the medical profession and its work. Different sectors of the community tend to place different emphasis on specific aspects of doctors' roles. This paper reviews those specific expectations which have been expressed by patients, sociologists, allied health professionals, governments and health administrators, and derives from them objectives for medical education.