| Description |
The French and United States medical professions share similar historical bases for strong political and economic market positions. As professions, the characteristics of common education, ethics, and purpose tend to keep physicians together in their professional organization. Nevertheless, the medical professions in both countries are susceptible to division within the field, such as the conflicts that often occur between generalists and specialists. Although both countries share the above features in the medical profession, there is a very important difference between the two countries. The French profession tends toward organizational particularism, which breaks it in ways contrary to the interests of the medical profession. On the other hand, the American medical profession is inclined to organize universally, there tends to be more unity and conformation towards the interests of physicians. The organized system in the United States has had an easier time fighting off political and economic pressures from the government. Whereas, the French system has not been able to withstand the pressures coming from a determined and strong state, due in part to the fragmented organization of the medical system. |
