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

NO old woman, who has an iufaliible remedy fol
your disease, to administer It to you under any
circumstances. The pretence may be " 1t CAM
hurt you; it cured Mr.. 4. when he was
worse oil than you are, no matter. Ii may bt
productive Of much mischief Il cannot be
harmless. Ii may cortrayene the plan Of treat
ment adopted by your physician. Discard II
and all those who would counsel you to do aught
save to follow the directions OF your physician
implicitly, exactly. Ifs patient desires coun-
sci, it is his privilege to have it, but counsel
should never be called without first consulting
with and obtaining the consent Of your attend
ing physician, both ia regard 10 the necessity Of
counsel, and the individual who shall be called.
In general the counseliug physician should he
selected for his age and experience, and should
always be in good standing with the legitimate
profession. IL is neither courtesy nor fair deal
ing for patient TO send for counsel without the
previous knowledge AMI consent Of his physi-
cian, nor 10 call one who is not a regular prac-
titloner. l. either case the attending physician
would have just Grounl Of complaint and in the
last case could not, in consistency, JOIN IN the
counsel.
Patients have an unloubei right to dismiss
one Physician and employ another at any time
they may see fl 10 10 80, aud when proper no
tce IS given to the attending Physician that
his services are no longer required in given case
no rules Uf etiquetter between Physicians are
violated, nor any IN feeling ,ugeuierel. But
justice and common courtesy require that the
patient should give h!- reasons for so doing, and
should never call another Physi,ian % prescribe
until he mas frsi discharged the one previously
employed No dissatisfaction Hith an attend
ing Physician for any cause; 10 Anciel or real
danger 10 the patient, should lead him 30 far 10
violate the requirements OF ordinary courtesy
between individuals as TO call another Pnysician
10 bis belsi 70 prescribe for him. OF lake charge
Of his case, until he has previously notified his
attending Physician that MS visits are no longer
required. To say nothing Of the fact that no
Intelligent Physician will ever bc caught in such
notorious violation Of professional courtesy as
to prescribe, under such circumstances for an
other Physician s patient. still patients should
treat then Physician with the ordinary courtesy
Of common life. Ii for any cause they 10 not
desire the continuance Of his serg ices. let them
frankly ayow ihair reasons for il, and not wound
his professional pride, ani bis manly feelings,
by showing hlm unceremCn.ousy aside for the
services oil another. There may be instances
IN which II would be proper Tor % patient 10 call
~ another Physician 10 the absence Of the at
tendirg Physician, as some sudden ezacerbation |
OF The symptoms, some crisis IN the disease, or /.
II case Of absence OF his attendant from town,
or detention on professional business; but neither I.
one nor all OF them would justify the Physician I
called, 10 continue his visits beyond the return |
o! Tie Attendant, and al geutiemluiy Physicians /
WILL only prescribe as the case requires pro tenn
pore, audseaye it 10 he resumed ty the attend /
Ing Physician.
To some these details may seem milu.e, IN
important, and perhaps foo i-h, yet a proper .
Observance Of them by both patient and Physi-
cian vii tend not only O. promote harmony and 4
goot feeling among professional men, lI; VII.
alsl strengthen and perpciul'e she c-ahIence u /
tie latieut iu his professional atteu lant, and
a-so tend 70 destroy tue progress oi 4aa1Aery bT
conserving the dignity yt tie patrons q The
lob.sst service on earth.
hc relations Of Phgsictgze eacEg them
'rirfs ls tAe subject next o. he considered. Pro
.essioual men are exceedingly sensitive. Some
have nicer AMI keeucr sense % the Frlpr!ety 7
AMI fitness pf things than others, i may be,
but all are sensitive 90 any Infringement Of
rights or " courtesy. Our circuits are not CIR
,umzcuhcd by metes aui bounds beyond which
We uust 70, but IN a sense 60 the whole bound
les continent IS ours, and our limits arr
BOUNDED only by the desires and messages Of
hose who seek our counsel and skill. Hence
lur paths cross and re-cross each other, aul are
10 a thousand ways enter,wiuel AMI iutermiuc-
occasional. II We follow the well defined land
marks SET down fur us, by cur own unanimous
'onsent, they Will very seldom occur II, how
.ver, We have an cyerweeuins desire 90 amass
wealth, 10 increase cur practice, % gam a wide
equation FOR skill or for covering larger ex-
ent of territory than our ncIghbor, We ale more
noic TO cyerstep the bounds Of professional
courtesy, and come into unpleasant contact with
Dur professional brethren. Il, moreover, az the
utset Of our professional lie, We realize the re-
possibility Of the position We occupy, as mem
'eTs Of a profession than which but oue las any
higher claims Or demand; If We rccC -lize il as
ur duty 70 exert our best abilities 10 maintain
Is dignity aud honor, 10 exl.t its standing and
xtend the bounds Of its usefulness, and 20
dorm the profession with the greatest purity Of
haracter and the highest STANDARD Of moral e1-
ellence, our professional greetings Will always
'e mutually friendly and cordial; our gather
ngs will be the arena FOR the exhibition Of cur
arnest efforts to contribute each his mite to the
inward progress Of cur noble science; and cur
onsutatious will be the ground upon which We
Isplay our unselhsh devotion 20 the alienation /
f the wants and woes Of suffering humanity
In accordance with these views all our inter
curse with each other should Be free, frank,
ordial, always bearing in mind that none Of Us
re too old 20 learn, and none Of US so young
'ut that We may communicate knowledge to
thers. We should have no remedies or treat
aent for any disease, but We are willing and
rec to communicate to any aui all the members
I the fraternity. In consultations We should
indulge in no rivalry, Jealousy, or pride Of opin-
)n. Tie humblest member Of the profession
h0uld be treated with all clndor and respect,
ever with hsughtiuess or supercIliousness. The
easant anl the prince somctimcs
Tss III
ending physician the prominence in the case.
he consulting physician is called, not TO quar-
el with the plan Of treatment already furnish
i, nor yet to change it abruptly-unless it be ]
nperiously demanded but to decide upon
Ian Of medication to be followed, and for which
9th counsel and attendant shall be equally res
onsbe; not 20 unsette the confidence Of the
atient or friends IN their attending physician,
y wise locks, sly innuendgs, or private confer
nces, but TO strengthen that confidence, al {
ly fears, and quiet alarms not 10 take the pa
lent under his own care, procuring by intrigue
r cunning the withdrawal Of the attending [
,rnctitioner, but to aid the latter by his skill
nd experience IN restoring the patient to
ealth, over which he hiss spent wearis0me days
nd nights Of anxious waichings. Consulta- |
ions are held for the benefit Of the patient pri-
larily, secondarily for the qualification Of
Tltuur, oui tutl may &c ultlt II properly Nou- I
ucted beneficial TO both consulting and attend
ng physicians. Having made all necessary ex-
limitations Of the patient both physicians should /
etire to a private place for deliberatiOn, and
aving completed their consultation in regard to
iagncsis and plan Of treatment, the attending ,
hysicisn should communicate the directions
greed upon to the patient or the friends, as
Tell as any opinions which it may be thought '
roper to express. No statement or opinions Of ,
be case should be given to the patient or friends
y the consulting physician, exceptin the pre-
ence Of the attending physician nor without his !
onsent. The propriety Of this injunction is OBJ
lous. Counsel and physician are now blended
D one, and no attempt should be made 10 Sc
srate them. Both are now responsible alike
Or the success or failure Of the plan Of treat
nent mutually agreed upon. Moreover all dis F,
ussions in consultation should be held as secret
nd confidential. Differences Of opinion found,
rrOrs exposed, or acknowledged, should never
'e diyulged nor should any Of the parties to n
by words or manner assert or insin.
late that any part Of the treatment pursued ;
nd not secure his assent. If honor or integrI-
4 -. IL. Il. -.