The political nature of medicine

“What should we expect of scientists in society?” This is the question we read in Richard Horton's Comment,1 which is quite important since the answer will be the same as for other similar questions: what should we expect of people having professions in different fields, such as engineers, musicians, economists, or soldiers in society? We agree that to achieve great science, there needs to be excellence in the field. We need to be able to provide the best diagnosis, best design, best music, best management of resources, and so on. However, to do great science or medicine, we also need to engage with society since greatness is only achieved if these disciplines improve the daily lives of people and the global quality of life.