Hot Springs weekly star. (Hot Springs, S.D.) 1892-1917, 1895-03-01
Professional Ethics.

Professional Ethics.
EDITOR Hot SPRINGS STAR:-To be
considered in good standing one has
to conform to certain customs which
by long usage and common consent are
considered to promote the general well
fare of society. 1t is so in all walks of
life, but the obligation is perhaps more
binding upon those leading profession
al lives, and is especially applicable to
those following the profession of medi-
cine.
Besides the unwritten rules for the
government of the conduct of physi-
clans considered in good professional
standing by tho professions at large,
we have the Code of Ethics of the
American Medical association for our
guidance. Everyone, on engaging in
the practice of medicine, ought to use
his best efforts to maintain it's
honor and dignity. In order to do
this he should gladly and strictly
comply with the adopted code ofethics.
Now the fact that Hot Springs is by
the public considered to be health
resort, and at such places physicians
of the highest ethical standing and
ability should be found, it is not sur
prising that people travelling thousands
of miles to be treated, should comment
unfavorably on the glaring violations
of medical propriety existing here, that
are SO apparent to all intelligent OBJ
servers. Section 4, article 1, of the
Code of Ethics of thess American Medi-
cal association can be quoted to make
this fact clear. 1t is as follows. SIT is
derogatory to the dignity of the pro-
fession to resort to public advertise
ments, or private cards or hand bills,
inviting the attention of individuals
afflicted with particular diseases,
publicly Offering advice and medicine
to the poor gratis; or promising radical
cures; or to publish cases and oper-
ations in the daily prints, or to suffer
such publications to be made; to invite
laymen to be present at operations; to
boast of cures and remedies; to adduce
certificates of skill and success; or to
perform any other similar acts. These
are the ordinary practices of empires
and are highly reprehensible in a
regular physician"
From my point of view it seems to
me that it is the duty of the physicians
here to harmonize and cooperate in
order to elevate and maintain here the
high standard of medical ethics exist
ing in the east, from which section so
many of the invalids visiting the
Springs come for treatment. I hardly
think it good professional judgment
or wise business policy to allow the
present conditions to exist.
would respectfully suggest that
through your paper you advocate the
reorganization of any medical society
that may have existed here, orelse the
formation of a new one. By so doing
you will doubtless merit the appro-
baton of the citizens of Hot Springs,
and the gratitude of the invalid public.
This, in my opinion, would bring the
Legitimate practitioners here into closer
relationship, and tend to stamp out
fakism and quackery of all kinds. 1t
would also give us a healthy medical
Organization, without which, in my
Judgment, successful health resort
cannot exist. My intense interest to
promote the growth of Hot Springs, as
a health resort, prompts me to advance
the above suggestion, which 1 believe
will meet with the approval of the
observant people Of this town, and the
endorsement of the physicians sending
patients here for treatment.
Very Respectfully.
G. b. BOYLE, NJ. d.