Sinossi

Medical professionalism is going through an unprecedented phase of change. This new scenario may generate risks, but it may also represent a great opportunity. This is true for the patient, but also for the professional worker. Altruism and collegiality contribute to high-quality health care: extending oneself to patients, families, trainees, and colleagues not only is a traditional element of medicine but translates into more effective care. Unfortunately, dissatisfaction and insufficient compliance of health workers represent a most crucial question of sustainability of health care systems, emerging paradoxically in the richest countries: "To face the question of the deterioration of the relationship between health professionals and patients will strengthen the efficiency of the medical profession" (UNESCO). A generic reference to "the need for more humanity" is insufficient and potentially misleading. The thought of Luigi Giussani has the potential to guide this critical change as focused here in four major areas, which indicate that Giussani's teaching is of fundamental importance for all professionalisms.