Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1866-02-02
Es5Ex, Vt, Jan. 1866

The Reciprocal Relations of Physicians
TO their Patients, and TO themselves.
, 1t j. probably not generally understood
that the Medical Profession have a code Of ethics
by which they profess to be governed in their
relations to their patients. to themselves and to
the communities in which they reside. Nor in
all probability is it any better understood that
in the same code are laid down certain general
principles which the Medical Profession suppose
may appropriately govern their patients and
the community in their relations to the Pbysi-
clan.
To elueida;e these recip;ooal duties as briefly
as possible, is the object Of this paper.
Qftie daiies Of Physicians to Patients
Oae Of the most obvious Of these duties is that
he should be always ready to obey the calls Of
the sick His mind should be so deeply imbuel
with the importance Of his mission and the re
sponsibility he habitually iueurs in the dis
charge Of its duties AS well as with the fac, that
the lives Of those committed to lis charge, de-
pend under God, upon his skill, attention aud
fidelity, that he shall no, only respond at once
to the call FOR his professional services, but dcem
his honor and integrity at stake in his faithful
and Punctual attendance upon each and every
one Of his patients. And his visits should be
sufficiently frequent to enable him to understand
the disease, and meet promptly any changes
that may occur in II, and TO preserve the con-
hienee Of the patient. Secrecy aud deli,asy
should always be strictly observed. Under or
dinary Circumstances uone Of the priyacies Of
personal and domestic life should ever be il
vulged. The Physician must necessarily become /
the repository Of personal and family secrets. I
he is admitted to the privacy Of individual life /.
aud Of the domeauc circle. lie would te re-
creant to his trust if III any wise By hint, 1r .
inuenis, or words he reveals any Of the secrets /
thus confiei in him. The force, necessity aud /
propriety Of this obligation are So great that .
professional men have, under certain c;rcum-
stances been protected in their Observance Of
secrecy by courts Of justice.
The Physician should never make gloomy
progu0sticatious or enieav0r 10 impress the pa
uent or the friend without just cause with the
alarming gravity Ci the disease or with the i'm
por,ance OF his services in the treatment or
cure. Il j. one Of the Distinguishing marks Of
quackcry TO magnify symptoms and diseases Jc-
youi their proper importance. AMI 90 Otstrve
"I0W fortunate il wss that you sent fr me
just as ycu did. Your child would have died
had ! not reached il just as dii." Ii also
sayors Of empiricisn 20 cXt1l the virtues of mg
observation, and my medicine rs having been
peculiarly important in the case. The Physician
should resort 70 none Of these means 20 lin HIM
self into importance or consequence, for q repu-
tation built upon such slender foundation vii
soon cruuble away and he will sink 10 bis proper
level
On the o;her hand the Physician should never
fail 70 give the friends Of the patient
timely notice # danger when IL near
ly threatens lie should De free frank
and candid in communicating TO patients
when asked, or % friends unaske1, the views he
entertaius Of the case. lie should raisc no false
hopes, ucr contribute to any groundess expec-
tations His opinions should he gwen with
such carior as to carry with them the good
sente and confidence Of patient and friends.
While he should be the minister Of hope and COM
fort 10 the sick, that by such c0riials be may
revive the dropping spirit. and c,unteract the
depressing influence Of disease, yet his own
reputation demands that he should not suffer
his patient 20 succumb 20 disease without time
ly warning Of danger. To do this properly.
requires srea; judgement anl delicacy and may
sometimes be more safely conflcl 10 surround
ing friend
Dufg Fof Patients 10 Pdysiciaa,.-The
first duty Of patient is TO select as his medical
adviser one who has received regular pr0fes-
sonal education. IT, you desired the services Of
an artist TO paint your portrait, or a mechanic to
shoe your horse, TO build you a house, or TO
clean or repair your watch, you would seek out
and patronize those, other things belng equal. I
who have devoted time and study to understand
each Of those branches In the idir YOU give /
preference TO the man who most thoroughly un-
derstand the law. In the ministry you prefer
the man who has passed through a regular {
course Of instruction. So also in medicine, /
conessedly the most intricate Of all the sciences,
you should most scrupulously exact in your
physician the highest and most extensive pro- {
fessional knowledge and experience. Know {
ledge Is never intuition. Men are not born in. 1
to the world with skill and experience and
knowledge OF the human system and the best {
methods Of treating disease. These are the ac-
QUESTION Of time and study and observation. If I
therefore in ether professions or occupation you
would not employ an ignoramu, much more
when life and health are concerned should yoa
refuse 10 commit these TO the hand Of the
no vice or the pretendor.
Patients should also prefer physician whose
habits Of life are regular, and who dsvotes his {
time and attention to the duties Of his profession.
Never select physician who is habitually in ]
temperate or profane. Both Of these are habits
which ought to be disconteEanced by every "a
tonal man. and the man addicted to either i
should not be trusted with the care Of the sick.
The one IS no more fit to administer medicine |
than the insane man, and it is therefore dan 7
gerous to intrust him with the hazards of life
and death the other violates one Of the funda- |
tai ~ir,lag ofr o,I ~ Ia
to be excluded from such society as the true
physician ought to be qualified to enter. I
The patient should also oonfde the care Of {
himself and family, as far as possible, TO one
physician. There should be no division in the q
family in regard to the matter. The physician for l
one should be the physician for all its members,
and for the reason that habits, temperaments, I
and constitutions are an important part of the I
physicians study, and when once learned, he is {
more likely to be successful in his treatment,
in given family than one who doss not possess
that knowledge. a
Having on such principles a. these selected your
physician, consult him in all your ailments. /
Never take medicine Of any kind without con- Z
sulting him. Give him your entire confidence. !
Tell him frankly, faithfully and unreserved-
ly all your complaints Make him your friend '
and advis in everything pertaining to your !
bodily health or infrmiiics. lie is under the I
most solemn obiigatons OF secresy and Will new |
er betrsy your confidence if he undertands his .
profession. Allow no feeling Of shame or delica c
cy Of sex to prevent your disclosing to him
all the symptoms Of your disease, to i
whatever organ Of the body they may
relate Talk with him just as
you could talk with an intimate friend in rels-
ton to business matters. Conceal nothing es- {
sential or which he deems essential fer HIM to
know in order to enable him to prescribe for {
you, probably modest reserve in the female
sex Is commendable, and forms q bright orna-
ment to female character but that is false mo-
desty and squeamish delicacy which withhold, {
from the family physician any of the symptoms I
of disease which he is expected to cure. The
physician has no idle curiosity to crafty IN
seeking out the causes, and seat and symptoms
of disease He Is in the pathway of duty. He |
must know all these or else his prescription Is
only the nroductinn Of the nunck Your reserve