CODE OF MEDICAL ETHICS: WITH REMARKS ON THE DUTIES OF PRACTITIONERS TO THEIR PATIENTS, AND THE OBLIGATIONS OF PATIENTS TO THEIR MEDICAL ADVISERS: ALSO ON THE DUTIES OF THE PROFESSION TO THE PUBLIC, AND THE OBLIGATIONS OF THE PUBLIC TO THE FACULTY; BY JUKES STYRAP, L.M.K.&Q.C.P., ETC., PHYSICIAN EXTRAORDINARY, LATE PHYSICIAN IN ORDINARY, TO THE SALOP INFIRMARY; LATE HONORARY SECRETARY TO THE SHROPSHIRE ETHICAL BRANCH, PREFACE. THE Compiler of the following Code (which has been critically revised and approved by several distinguished practitioners in England, Ireland, and Scotland), in submitting it to the profession simply as an aid to practitioners in cases of doubt or ethical dispute, begs to acknowledge his deep obligations to the framers of the laws of the Manchester and Salopian Medico-Ethical Societies, and other writers, and especially to the Committee of the American Medical Association appointed (in May, 1846, and whose report was presented in June, 1847,) to prepare a Code of Ethics for the government of the profession of the United States-of whose compilation he has largely availed himself, and to the members of which he begs thus publicly to tender his most cordial acknowledgment. At the same time he deems it well to remark, that, so far as he is able to judge from a careful examination of various codes, American and English, one and all are based on that of Dr. Percival. In anticipation of the objection which may possibly be urged by some, that, in view of the lex non scripta, a written Code is unnecessary for the guidance of the profession, the Compiler would refer such objectors to the applications which continually appear in the columns of the medical journals for ethical information on points in dispute; and to the important fact that not only have our eminently practical American brethren deemed written laws essential, but in deference to the suggestion of the greatly esteemed Founder of the British Medical Association-the late Sir Charles Hastings-two Select Committees* were appointed to consider and report on the subject; and if further evidence on the point be necessary, let the printed rules of the various local Medico-Ethical Societies themselves testify: in reference to which latter it may be well to *These Committees unfortunately never met in conference, owing to the inconvenient distances at which the several members resided from each other. note, that those they have hitherto published are generally considered to lack that fulness of ethical detail so essential to a due perception of the relative rights and reciprocal duties of the profession and the public-an omission which the compiler, with the aid of others, has endeavoured to supply in the following pages. That many practitioners err from ignorance, and that an approved, comprehensive code for reference would be acceptable to the bulk of the profession, the compiler entertains a strong belief, based on upwards of twenty years' official experience in ethical disputes, and numerous communications from all parts of the kingdom seeking for information and advice on the subject. In preparing the present compilation, the selected rules have been anxiously considered, line by line; and where by change or omission of words, phrases, or sentences, it was thought that the meaning could be rendered more intelligible, the right has been freely exercised; indeed, there are but few, if any, which have not been more or less so modified. Numerous additions have also been made thereto, and a few unwritten customs introduced: and one such will be found in the last, though, it is hoped, not the least useful, chapter on Medical Etiquette' the need of which has long been felt, and from a late incident, forcibly impressed on the attention of The College, Shrewsbury, THE COMPILER. NOTE.-The Compiler will feel greatly obliged if his professional brethren will kindly favour him with suggestions for the improvement of the unavoidably imperfect Code. THE MEDICO-ETHICAL CODE. TO THE PROFESSION. THERE is probably no social position which offers more powerful incentives to all that is pure and honourable, unselfish and sincere, than the Medical Profession; and none in which, as a rule, these exalted virtues are more conspicuously illustrated. It may be well, therefore, to offer a few remarks on the obligations which devolve upon medical practitioners-or, in other words, on the duties and rights of each to the other, to themselves, and to the public: and the converse-remarks which, as preliminary to laying down general and special rules for their guidance, will not, it is to be hoped, be deemed inappropriate. Truly, the medical is an honourable, a noble profession! having for its grand object the maintenance, or rather the restoration of health to man-health, the mainspring of human life-the stimulus to human exertion-without which the great workshop of human mechanism would pause, and progress itself come to an end. A sound mind in a sound body is justly characterised as the noblest work of God. It is man in his best, in his purest state, and perfect in his physical development; nevertheless, he is not more exempt from the casualties of disease and death than the smallest living monad; to combat these, and by skill and judgment to, if possible, successfully overcome them, is a privilege and a sacred duty assigned to our profession—a faithful and conscientious discharge of which will ensure its own rich reward in the approval of 'the still small voice within'. Let us, moreover, ever bear in mind that the temporal life of an immortal being is a solemn trust and that for the talents and opportunities with which, in our special vocation, we have been |