The Dallas daily herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1873-1887, 1876-09-17
EXIT ETHICS.

A copy Of the PeniaSuIr JOmln q
Medicine has been handed to THr
lIERAl.D's editor. To our infinite salts.
faction we find that this very high
authority, in conjunction with the I'U-
giwa Medical MothiH Ga periodical, by
the way, that ought to satisfy "Modi-
Gus, y supports, tortifies and sustains
every utterance of THE HERALD on the
question of medical ethics Beyond all
this, we find that distinguished gentle
man. j, Marion Sims, whose reputation
and whose honors are worldwide, than
whom the South never produced II
greater physician, giving expression in
the most torcible language, to views
similar to those entertained by The
HERALD. We quote from the August
issue of the PsHRSuldr Journal of .Hcdi
cine not with the view, however of con.
vincing Los Medicos," for n Cmsarian
operation would only deliver him OF
his rreiudices:
In his address before the late meeting
Of the American Medical Association,
President j. Marion Sims referred to
that ancient instrument, the Code OF
Ethics, in terms that have spread some
CONSERVATION among the more conscry.
atiue members Of the profession. He
was OF the opinion that it is not up to
the standard of professional require.
ments, while it hampered the profession
at large in many ways which should be-
perfectly free. 1t is violated every day,
not only by the rank and file but by
those high in authority--men who are
considered leaders, advanced thinkers
and workers, lleasked very pertinently
how many Of the members present pre-.
scribe chlorodyne, tolu anodyne, Nc.
NUNS elixir of opium, etc. Yet these
are secret remedies, and their prcscrip.
ton is n ilagrant violation of the code.
Again, in regard to patents, he asked
why physicians who invent instruments
may not take out patent rights, Their
failure to do so, or rather the provision
OF the code which forbids their doing
so, simply enrches the instrument
maker ut the expense of the time and
labor OF the inventor Very uniustly
the inventor of an instrument. on
which he has expended much time,
Anxiety and money, is compelled to
9'eec his invention. Does the profession
at large, or does the public, derive any
benefit from this robbing Of the inyen.
tor?
These views backed by the hiuh
standing of their author, must have
their influence on the professional sen.
timent touching the code. The subject
ia certainly II delicate one to handle
but in view of the harlships il imposes
it should be dealt with The question,
abe efficacy of the instrument. more
over, should furnish another reason why
we should not be debarrcd from Grill
cisins it. Honorable men, guided by
the great injunction of "Do unto other,
as you would have others do unto Won
which had its origin some time previous
to the drafting of the American code
do not need the latter while dishonor
able men require more than printed
document to keep them in line Asa
prominent physician remarked to Us
the other day, the code of ethics is the
cause oil great deal of unnecessar,
dispute among oven honorable physi
clans. Points very frequently arts,
which the code does not cover while H
Is impossible to violate the letter with
out doing violence 10 the spirit, and
vice persd. The existence of the code
even as q guide is beginning to be 70
garded by many prominent member,
OF the profession as Of questionable pro
priety and utility. DR.. Sims takes occa
SION 70 impress upon the Association
the Importance Of educating It's Nom
bers up to that higher code, that nm.