Competition
Professional life creates many instances where colleagues are competing for jobs, for representative appointments or positions of responsibility in medical associations, colleges and academies, medical boards and councils, and so on.
Many of the processes leading to these appointments remain confidential within the profession rather than being in the public domain, but they still reflect upon the profession and the standards within it. It is in the nature of these matters that past differences between professional colleagues can come to the surface. Personality clashes can get in the way, and – as in all human encounters – ambition and competitiveness can verge upon ruthlessness and professional jealousies can have unfortunate consequences.
We will, from time to time, have strong views about certain professional colleagues with whom we come into contact. There are occasions when it would be appropriate to express such opinions openly or in the context of having been asked for one’s views, and other occasions when it is wiser to keep these views to oneself. Particular care should be taken to:
- Separate facts from personal opinions
- Recognise situations where you might be biased, especially if you stand to gain personally from expressing a particular view
- Separate the views being expressed from any feelings you might have about the person who is expressing them
- Declare any conflicts, whether real or perceived
- Respect the right of others to hold views that are different from your own
- Try to keep any comments objective and proportional to the context in which your views are being sought
- Avoid gratuitous criticism – that is, uninvited, unnecessary and excessive criticism, especially if it is malicious.
It is unworthy and unethical to deliberately disseminate adverse information about a professional colleague – even if true – if the purpose of doing so is vexatious or self-serving.