Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1857-09-02
NO. XXXVIII.
Medical Code of Ethics.
(Ion fin,yadl

: (Contiaued)
AET1oH II Obligations Of patients to their
physicians.-s l. The members of the medical
profession, upon whom is enjoined the perform
ance of so many important and arduous duties
towards the community, and WHO are required
: to make SO many sacrifices Of comfort, ease, and
health, for the welfare Of those who avail them
selves of their services, certainly have right
to expect and require that their patients should
entertain just sense of the duties which they
owe to their medical attendants.
So. The first duty of patient is to select
as his medical adviser one who has received
regular professional education. In 20 trade or
Occupation, do mankind rely on the skill OF an
untaught artist; and in medicine, confessedly
the most difficult and intricate of the sciences,
the world ought not to suppose that knowledge
is intuitive.
So. Patients should prefer Q physician
whose habits of life are regular, and who is not
devoted to company pleasure, or to any pursuit
incompatible with his professional obligations.
A patient should also, con6de the csre of him.
self and family, as much as possible to one ply
lsician, for medical man who has become ac-
lquainted with the peculiarities of the Constitu-
tion, habits, and predispostioDs, of those he at
tends is more likely to be successful in bis treat
ment than one who does not possess that knowl-
edge.
A patient who has thus selected his physi-
clan, shosd always apply for advice in what
may appear to him trivial cases, for the most ia
tai results often supervene on the slightest acci-
dents II is of still more Importance that lie
should apply for assistance in the forming stage
of violent diseases: it is to neglect OF this pre-
cept that medicine owes much Of the uncef-
tainty and imperfection with which it has been
repreached.
s4. Patients should faithfully and unreserv.
edly communicate to their physician the sup.
posed cause of their disease. This is the more
important, as many diseases Of mental origin
simulate those dependinso on external causes, aud
yet are only to be cured by ministsring to the
mind diseased. A patient should never be q.
fraid of thus making his physician bis friend
and adviser; he should always bear in mind
that medical man Is under the strongest OBJ
| legations Of secrecy. Even the female sex
10y to prevent their disclosing the seat symptoms
and causes of complaints peculiar to them
However commendable modest reserve may
belin the common occurrences Of life, its strict
observance in medicine is often attended with
the most serious consequences and patient
NAV sink under painful and loathsome dis
ease, which might have been readily prevented
had timely intimation been given to the ply
sician.
s5. A patient should mover tire bis physician
with tedious detail of events or matters not
appertaining to his disease. Even as relates to
his actual symptoms, he will convey much more
real information by giving clear answers to in.
terrogstories, than by a minute account OF
his own framing. Neither should he obtrude
upon his physician the details of his business nor
the history of his family concerns
Sc. The obedience of a patient to the pre-.
criptons of his physician should be prompt and
implicit. He should never permit his own
crude opinions as to their fitness, to influence
his attention to them. A failure in one partio.
ular may render an otherwise judcious treat
ment dangerous and even fatal. This remark is
equally applicable to diet, drink, and exercise.
AS patients become convalescent, they are very
apt 70 suppose that the rules prescribed for them
may be edisregarded, aud the consequence, but too
often, is o relapse. Patients should never allow
themselves to be persuaded to take any medicine
whatever, that may be recommended to them
bv the self.constituted doctors and doctressee,
who are SO frequently met with, and who pre-
tend to possess infallible remedies for the cure
of every disease However simple some Of their
prescriptions may appear to be- it often happens
that they are productive of much mischief, aud
In all cases they are injurious, by contraven-
ing the plan Of treatment adop ted by the ply
sician.
81. A patient should. if possible, avoid even
the triendlg otsits Of a physician who is not at
tending him-and when he does receive them, he
should never converse on the subject of his dis
ease, as an observation may be made with.
out any intention Of Interference, which may
destroy his confidence in the course he is pur-
suing. and induce him to neglect the directions
prescribed to him. A patient should never send
for consulting physician without the express
consent of his own medical attendant. Itis of
great Importance that physicians should act in
concert; for, although their modes of treatment
NAV be attended with equal success when EN-
ployed singly. yet conjointly they are very like
iy to be productive of disastrous results.
So. When patient wishes to dismiss his
physician, justice and common courtesy require
that he should declare his reasons for so doing.
50. Patients should always when practica-
BILE, send for their physician in the morning, be-
fore his usual hour of going out; for, by being
early aware of the visits he has to pay during
the day, the physician is able to apportion his
time in such manner as to prevent an interier-
ence of engagements. Patients should also a.
void calling on their medical adviser unnecessa-
rily during the hours devoted to meals or sleep.
They should always be in readiness to receive
the visits of their physician, as the detention OF
few minutes is often a serious inconvenience
TO him.
so. A patient should after his recovery,
entertain Just aud enduring sense OF the value
of the services rendered him by his physician,
for these are of such character, that no mere
pecuniary acknowledgement can repay or car-
| eel them.
| The OLD WOMAN AND THE bAIL0R.-A worthy
old woman in the city was ono day walking
along the street, quietly smoking her pipe. a
sailor. rendered little Inischievous by liquor,
came saving down, and when opposite the old
woman saucy pushed her aside, and with pass
of his hand knocked the pipe ont OF her mouth.
He then halted to hear her fret at his trick,
and to enjoy O laugh at her expense. But what
was his astonshment, when she meekly picked up
the pieces of her broken pipe, without the least
resentment in her manner then, giving him
dignified look of mingled sorrow, kindness, and
pity, said, GOD forgive you, my con, as do"
| 1t touched tender chord in the heart OF the
rude tar. He felt ashamed, condemned and re-
peutant. The tear started in in his eye; he
must make reparaton. He heartily confessed
his error, and thrusting both his hands into his
| full pocket of change, he forced all their con-
tents upon her, exclaiming, God bless you, kind
mother! Ill never do SO again."
! A DUEL SETTLED BY OAsH.-A Frenchman
was to fight duel with an American; the con-
ditions were that but one shot should be ex-
changed, and that the precedence should go by
lot. The Frenchman got the first chance, but
failed to hit his adversary. AS the Yankee lift
ed his weapon, the other called out
Hold, will buy your shot"
All were astonished at this, but his opponent
answered.:
"What will you gvea"