RT Journal Article SR Electronic T1 Painting as policy JF Medical Humanities JO J Med Humanit FD BMJ Publishing Group Ltd and Institute of Medical Ethics SP 35 OP 36 DO 10.1136/jmh.2004.000167 VO 31 IS 1 A1 J A Etheredge YR 2005 UL http://mh.bmj.com/content/31/1/35.abstract AB Ours is, at its heart, a profession of service predicated on mutual trust. All too often policies aimed at resolving a particular problem in health care are inadequate not because they fail at what they were intended to do, but rather because of the unintended consequences, both direct and indirect, that are inevitable in complex systems where competing interests preclude unity of purpose. Ultimately, these policy “layers” distance us from our foundational principles and the disjointed complexity that ensues alienates the patient, disheartens and disillusions the physician, and further undermines the relationship that is so crucial to proper health care delivery. Importantly, we must realise that legislative complexity simply cannot make up for an absence of trust and instead work to foster such trust by reflecting our profession’s tradition of service to the public through a blatant, highly visible pursuit of patient welfare.