The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1903-05-09
TIRE DUTIES OF PHYSICIANS.
rODE or ETHICS ADOPTED ny
MEDICAL ASSOCIATION.
u,rs Expected to Remove Cause Of Dissen.
sion AMONG the Members-They Must
>ot Promise RADICAL Cures or Publish
u.,ort OF Gases in the Newspapers.

.,on Among the Members-They Must
Not Promise RADICAL Cures or Publish
ueport OF Gases in the Newspapers.
WV ORLEANS. May s.-The most i'm
,or,apt action OF the American Medical
association, in convention here. was the
adonion Yesterday Of the standard or
nrncipl.s Of medical ethics. Differences
IN tina question Of ethics are said to have
hoo, the main cause Of dssension among
,.o members Of the profession and the
,aason for the detection from the associa-
fiou in New York,
II is alleged that the adoption Of the
standard will wipe away all Of these differ
erc.s and bring the whole profession into
accord The subcommittee evolved one
a, Of medical principles from the ten set
lsfore it. The subcommittee report
Gas explained to the house OF delegates
and adopted without a dissenting vote.
The house thereupon burst into cheers and
applause
The code of ethics defines the duties Of
physicians to their patients; professional
service of physicians to each other; the
duties of physicians in regard to consulta-
tions: the duties OF physicians to each other
ard to the profession at large; the duties
of physicians in case Of interference; differ.
ences between physicians compensatj,n
and duties of the profession to tie public.
Relative to the duties ot physicians to
their patients, the utinos.secrecy is entailed,
and the physician must disclose none
Of the private affairs OF the patient,
90 ntirmty Of disposition or flaw Of
,bar ~,
endaTco Timely notice should be given
II Angerous manifestations to the friends
II the patient and to the patient himself,
# necessary. The patient should not be
abandoned If idcurable.
Every physician should identify himself
with an organized body OF his profession,
and it y recommended that medical go
cistes should be organized in every county
md should place themselves in ah1liation
with their State societies. and these in turn
with the Aperican Medical Association.
Physicians must be temperate in all things;
must not resort TO public advertisement or
private cards promising radical cures;
must not publish cases or operations in
the daily print or suffer such publications
to be made; must not invite layrnen TO
operations, muSt not boast Of cures and
tenledls,
ThAy must not hold patients for surgical
.nIfunen's or prescriptions; accept re-
lAtes on prescriptions; accept or promote
the usH of secret medicines or give a certiti-
,ate attesting their efficacies
Physicians should not treat themselves
or their families. hut should be willing to
give their services to any brother physician
or member Of fis immediate family. In
cases OF poverty ard in certain public
duties the services Of physicians may be
given free. Some general rule should be
agreed GU by each medical society as to
n
point OF honor OF all physicians to hold
" We rule.
Physicians must not pay commissions
~ any one who ret.o mmends them. In
the case Of differences between physicians
The question in dispute should be left to
NE arbitration Of impartial members Of
the profession.
IN cases OF pestilence, the physician must
remain at his post Of duty. It ie the duty
" the physicians to warn the public against
all quacks and cEarlatans and to make
sure that pharmacists do not usurp the
position OF physician
DR., John H. Musser. philadelphia vice.
presidents. DR.. G. c. Savage. Tennessee:
DR., j.. A., Done Dyer, New Orleans; DR..
G. |. Hall, Missouri; DR.. G. F. Jenkins,
Iowa; treasurer. Dr.; Henry H. Newman;
Drs. W. II. WEIGH Of Maryland, Myles F.
Porter Of Fort Wayne. Ind. and NJ. l..
Rarris Of Chicago were elected on the hoard
Of trustees.
Or. Musser, who was elected president,
left the city vest erday. He will he installed
and the constitution will be amended to
continue him in of re till the opening Of
the annual meeting next succeeding
In this way the present presiding officer,
Or. Billings, will hold over ill the opening
OF the annual meeting, to be helt, in Atlantic