What Should Physicians Consider Prior to Unionizing?

Physicians considering unionization face many practical, emotional, and moral obstacles. Even some who feel that a collective bargaining unit is necessary remain concerned that patient care could suffer if physicians unionize. This article discusses unionized physicians' moral obligations to patient populations and health care systems' share in this responsibility. It argues that unionization can be done ethically as long as union actions are focused on improving patient care.

Conselhos de medicina: criação, trajetória e consolidação / Councils of medicine: establishment, consolidation and trajectory

A criação dos conselhos de medicina no Brasil foi um movimento de grande importância por suas peculiaridades. Para a elaboração deste trabalho, foi realizada uma pesquisa nas bibliotecas dos conselhos de medicina e, com base no material analisado, organizou-se este trabalho com o objetivo de manter viva a memória dos conselhos médicos e contribuir como fonte de futuras indagações. Na primeira metade do século XX, a profissão médica brasileira sofreu um intenso processo de transformação, passando do modelo liberal para o assalariamento, o que provocou conflitos na classe médica. O Movimento Sanitarista teve importância no desenrolar das ações que precederam o movimento pela criação dos conselhos. Em 1930, o sistema de saúde foi organizado com a criação dos institutos de aposentadoria e pensão. A primeira entidade médica criada no Brasil foi o Sindicato Médico Brasileiro, que fiscalizou o exercício da medicina e defendeu o bom nível dos salários médicos. Em 30 de setembro de 1957, foi promulgada a Lei nº 3.268, que determinou a reestruturação dos conselhos de medicina. Assim, esses conselhos passaram a registrar os médicos em seus Estados e fiscalizar o exercício profissional. Em 1964, com a instituição do regime militar, deu-se início ao período de repressão política e, na área da saúde, foi criado o Instituto Nacional de Previdência Social, o INPS, com o objetivo de organizar a previdência e a assistência médica. Nessa época, deu-se o início do sucateamento da saúde pública com o crescimento dos planos de assistência médica privada, os chamados planos de saúde, e da abertura de numerosas escolas médicas. Com a redemocratização do País, foi criado o Sistema Único de Saúde, o SUS, e os Conselhos de Medicina engajaram-se no movimento pelo exercício digno da atividade médica.

The creation of the councils of medicine in Brazil was a movement of great importance for its peculiarities. For the preparation of this work, a literature search on the libraries of the councils of medicine was performed and from the researched material this work was organized with the objective of keeping the memory alive and supply as a source for future research. In the first half of the twentieth century, the Brazilian medical profession suffered an intense process of transformation, going from liberal model for the salaried class, raising conflicts. The Movimento Sanitário had importance in the conduct of actions that preceded the movement for the creation of the councils. In 1930, the health system was organized with the creation of the retirement and pension institutes. The first medical entity created in Brazil was the Sindicato Médico Brasileiro (Brazilian Medical Union), to monitor the medical practice and to protect wages and salaries. On September 30, 1957, the Act 3.268 was promulgated establishing the restructuring of the councils of medicine. Thus, the councils started to register the doctors in their states and to monitor the professional practice. In 1964, with the institution of the military regime has begun a crackdown on health area and the Instituto Nacional de Previdência Social (INPS) was created, with the objective to organize the health and medical assistance. At that time, the fragmentation of public health took place with the growth of the private health coverage plans and the opening of many private medical schools. After the democratization of the country the Sistema Único de Saúde – SUS (Health Single System) was created and the councils of medicine joined the movement for enforcement of respectable medical activity.

Environmental justice: implications for occupational health nurses.

Through the use of innovative tools, such as clinical mnemonics, exercises in risk and asset mapping, and strategic program development, occupational health nurses can incorporate dimensions of environmental justice (EJ) into the workplace. Occupational health nurses who also take on educational roles can use case studies and network with labor and EJ groups to provide clinical experiences for occupational and environmental health nursing students, thereby integrating EJ into occupational and environmental health nursing practice. Occupational health nurses are well positioned to serve as technical experts within community-based participatory research projects. Occupational health nurses must share their knowledge and experience as members of coalitions that represent workers in their fight for worker health and safety.