“Professional autonomy does not mean absolute freedom, but rather, it lies on a continuum and comes with responsibilities.”

— Doctors of British Columbia policy statement¹

In the midst of a busy day at work, you may often find yourself thinking, “If I could just be more in control of my work, my life would be so much better!” If this is true for you, please know you are not alone. Many physicians understandably believe that greater professional autonomy is always desirable and will naturally lead to elevated well-being. At a time when it often feels like the system is conspiring against us, such a position is enticing. However, we have found that the concept of professional autonomy is more complex and nuanced than it might first appear.

Professional autonomy, broadly defined as having self-directed freedom and moral independence, is better considered on a continuum across multiple domains rather than something you either have or don’t have. Whether you work in a small, private family medicine practice or a large, multi-campus, multispecialty health system, it’s worth your time to understand the complexity of professional autonomy and explore whether your level of autonomy is optimized for your personal and professional well-being.