Hippocratic oaths and hypocritical practice: NPM and the public health system

Abstract

In this paper, we draw on two texts, the British television drama series, Bodies (2005-2006) and the Garling report of the Special Commission of Inquiry, Acute Care Services in NSW Public Hospitals (Garling 2008b) to make visible the irreconcilable problems health professionals grapple with as they work within the healthcare systems that have uncritically embraced New Pubic Management (NPM). Our analyses of both texts demonstrate the outcomes of NPM are more consistent with hypocritical behaviour than the Hippocratic oath. In the manner recommended by Denhardt and Denhardt (2000), we conclude that it is time to reject the underlying assumptions of NPM in health systems and reinvigorate the notions of public service as the prevailing discourse.