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cian's patient because of an aggravation of the disease, he should provide only for the patient's immediate need and should withdraw from the case on the arrival of the family physician after he has reported the condition found and the treatment administered.

WHEN SEVERAL PHYSICIANS ARE SUMMONED

Section 6.-When several physicians have been summoned in a case of sudden illness or of accident, the first to arrive should be considered the physician in charge. However, as soon as the exigencies of the case permit, or on the arrival of the acknowledged family attendant or the physician the patient desires to serve him, the first physician should withdraw in favor of the chosen attendant; should the patient or his family wish some one other than the physician known to be the family physician to take charge of the case the patient should advise the family physician of his desire. When, because of sudden illness or accident, a patient is taken to a hospital, the patient should be returned to the care of his known family physician as soon as the condition of the patient and the circumstances of the case warrant this transfer.

A COLLEAGUE'S PATIENT

Section 7.-When a physician is requested by a colleague to care for a patient during his temporary absence, or when, because of an emergency, he is asked to see a patient of a colleague, the physician should treat the patient in the same manner and with the same delicacy as he would have one of his own patients cared for under similar circumstances. The patient should be returned to the care of the attending physician as soon as possible.

RELINQUISHING PATIENT TO REGULAR ATTENDANT

Section 8.-When a physician is called to the patient of another physician during the enforced absence of that physician, the patient should be relinquished on the return of the latter.

SUBSTITUTING IN OBSTETRIC WORK

Section 9.-When a physician attends a woman in labor in the absence of another who has been engaged to attend, such

physician should resign the patient to the one first engaged, upon his arrival; the physician is entitled to compensation for the professional services he may have rendered.

ARTICLE V.-DIFFERENCES BETWEEN PHYSICIANS

ARBITRATION

Section 1.-Whenever there arises between physicians a grave difference of opinion which cannot be promptly adjusted, the dispute should be referred for arbitration to a committee of impartial physicians, preferably the Board of Censors of a component county society of the American Medical Association.

ARTICLE VI.-COMPENSATION

LIMITS OF GRATUITOUS SERVICE

Section 1. The poverty of a patient and the mutual professional obligation of physicians should command the gratuitous services of a physician. But institutions endowed by societies, and organizations for mutual benefit, or for accident, sickness and life insurance, or for analogous purposes, should be accorded no such privileges.

CONTRACT PRACTICE

Section 2.—It is unprofessional for a physician to dispose of his services under conditions that make it impossible to render adequate service to his patient or which interfere with reasonable competition among the physicians of a community. To do this is detrimental to the public and to the individual physician, and lowers the dignity of the profession.

SECRET DIVISION OF FEES CONDEMNED

Section 3.-It is detrimental to the public good and degrading to the profession, and therefore unprofessional, to give or to receive a commission. It is also unprofessional to divide a fee for medical advice or surgical treatment, unless the patient or his next friend is fully informed as to the terms of the transaction. The patient should be made to realize that a proper

fee should be paid the family physician for the service he renders in determining the surgical or medical treatment suited to the condition, and in advising concerning those best qualified to render any special service that may be required by the patient.

CHAPTER III

THE DUTIES OF THE PROFESSION TO THE

PUBLIC

PHYSICIANS AS CITIZENS

Section 1.-Physicians, as good citizens and because their professional training specially qualifies them to render this service, should give advice concerning the public health of the community. They should bear their full part in enforcing its laws and sustaining the institutions that advance the interests of humanity. They should cooperate especially with the proper authorities in the administration of sanitary laws and regulations. They should be ready to counsel the public on subjects relating to sanitary police, public hygiene and legal medicine.

PHYSICIANS SHOULD ENLIGHTEN PUBLIC

DUTIES IN EPIDEMICS

Section 2.-Physicians, especially those engaged in public health work, should enlighten the public regarding quarantine regulations; on the location, arrangement and dietaries of hospitals, asylums, schools, prisons and similar institutions; and concerning measures for the prevention of epidemic and contagious diseases. When an epidemic prevails, a physician must continue his labors for the alleviation of suffering people, without regard to the risk to his own health or life or to financial return. At all times, it is the duty of the physician to notify the properly constituted public health authorities of every case of communicable disease under his care, in accordance with the laws, rules and regulations of the health authorities of the locality in which the patient is.

PUBLIC WARNED

Section 3.-Physicians should warn the public against the devices practised and the false pretensions made by charlatans which may cause injury to health and loss of life.

PHARMACISTS

Section 4. By legitimate patronage, physicians should recognize and promote the profession of pharmacy; but any pharmacist, unless he be qualified as a physician, who assumes to prescribe for the sick, should be denied such countenance and support. Moreover, whenever a druggist or pharmacist dispenses deteriorated or adulterated drugs, or substitutes one remedy for another designated in a prescription, he thereby forfeits all claims to the favorable consideration of the public and physicians.

THE OATH OF HIPPOCRATES, THE FATHER OF MEDICINE

"I swear by Apollo, the physician, and Aesculapius, and Health, and All-heal, and all the gods and goddesses, that, according to my ability and judgment, I will keep this Oath and this stipulation to reckon him who taught me this art equally dear to me as my parents, to share my substance with him, and relieve his necessities if required; to look upon his off-spring on the same footing as my own brothers, and teach them this Art, if they wish to learn it, without fee or stipulation; and that by precept, lecture and every mode of instruction, I will impart a knowledge of the Art to my own sons, and those of my teachers, and to the disciples bound by a stipulation and oath, according to the law of medicine, and to none others. I will follow that system of regimen, which, according to my ability and judgment, I consider for the benefit of my patients, and abstain from whatever is deleterious and mischievous. I will give no deadly medicine to anyone if asked, nor suggest any such counsel; and in like manner I will not give to a woman a pessary to produce abortion. With purity and holiness I will pass my life and practice my Art. I will not cut persons laboring under the stone, but will leave this to be done by men who are practitioners

of this work. Into whatever houses I enter, I will go into them for the benefit of the sick, and will abstain from every voluntary act of mischief and corruption; and, further, from the seduction of females or males, of freemen and slaves.

"Whatever in connection with my professional practice or not in connection with it, I see or hear, in the life of men which ought not to be spoken of abroad, I will not divulge, as reckoning that all such should be kept secret.

"While I continue to keep this Oath unviolated, may it be granted me to enjoy life and the practice of the Art, respected by all men, in all times! But should I trespass and violate this Oath, may the reverse be my lot!"

ETHICAL SUGGESTIONS TO THE YOUNG PRACTITIONER

The above principles of the practice of medicine contained in the Oath of Hippocrates cannot be much improved upon even at the present day.

It is much wiser for a physician who expects to specialize to do a certain amount of general practice first; it broadens him and prevents a narrow view of the art of medicine. If a physician immediately specializes after his hospital internship, he will not so well understand the bearing of general conditions on the part of the body on which he specializes.

For some years, at least, it is wise to have the physician's office hours in the window or on the door, so that it may be readily learned when he is in his office. The office hours should be decided upon only after very careful deliberation. Too long published office hours and too many divisions of office hours are a mistake, and it is well for the physician to immediately start with the addition to the office hour sign, and to his cards, of the words, "and by appointment." At the present day it is rather unwise to begin to advertise evening office hours, although for some years the young practitioner may be in his office at certain hours on most evenings; but it is better to let these hours be "by appointment" so that the young physician may obtain a free evening without breaking his own rules and regulations.

It is well to begin immediately to do the office work, as far

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