Should doctors be role Models for their patients?

The basic questions asked in the scenario are whether physicians should always "practice what they preach," and whether a physician's personal life should be accessible and relevant to patients. Professional role models are important. For example, a person would be unlikely to seek advice from a financial advisor who has filed for bankruptcy.

Are physicians required to have perfect behavior before they can give advice to patients? Can physicians offer therapies to the best of their ability, irrespective of whether they follow the same recommendations? To what extent do patients expect us to be role models for them, and to what extent should we expect this of ourselves? An interesting question is whether certain physician behaviors or experiences are counterproductive in providing effective counseling about lifestyle modification The research in this area is scant and provides little guidance.

The ethical basis of physician behavior probably has more to do with motives than with the behavior itself. Physicians are as imperfect as patients; therefore, expecting a physician to always follow recommendations he or she gives to patients, while intuitively reasonable, is probably not appropriate. They are not obliged to be role models but at least they must  adhere to certain principles in public life since their profession  requires more in terms professionalism than most other professions.

• Always display pleasant manners  in public.


• Cut down intake of unhealthy foods.


• Don't Smoke or drink in public in case you cannot give them up.


• Do take out time for exercise and walk not only to pass on a good message to your patients but it is otherwise beneficial.


• Avoid disclosing personal information and beliefs to patients on social Media.


• Moderate what you disclose in your online profiles and postings, a  good rule of thumb is to always consider the analogue situation. Would you   be confident speaking the content of your post in public lecture theatre?

Doctors should preferably  remain mindful of their  duty to act professionally in all public arenas and  set a good example to their patients, but this is not a must. They are not obliged to be role models but should try to be.