Trust in the Medical Profession

Abstract

Abstract In this chapter, a practicing physician/hospital administrator and social scientist reflect on the phenomenon of trust in the medical profession through two intersecting lenses: the theoretical and empirical literature on trust in institutions and the unique circumstances created by the COVID-19 pandemic. The chapter begins with an application of general principles of trust in institutions to the “normal” healthcare context. Then the chapter draws on the experiences of healthcare providers, healthcare administrators, and laypeople during the pandemic to discuss the ways in which the healthcare context during the pandemic has been distinctly abnormal. Lessons learned during the pandemic are reviewed, and the chapter concludes with a discussion of next steps—both practical (i.e., how to build and repair trust) and empirical (i.e., needed research).