The emoluments of the medical profession and the means of attaining them : an introductory address delivered at Sydenham College, Birmingham, October 1st, 1856, on occasion of the opening of the winter session / by George Elkington.

  • Elkington, George.
Date:
1856
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: The emoluments of the medical profession and the means of attaining them : an introductory address delivered at Sydenham College, Birmingham, October 1st, 1856, on occasion of the opening of the winter session / by George Elkington. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    the minds of my young friends, the importance of cultivating a love of truth and of cherishing a high sense of honour and fidelity, and would express my fervent hope that they will respect these vntues in their teachers, who are desirous by every means in their power, to advance the interest of their pupils, and to uphold the honour and dignity of the Pro¬ fession, There are other circumstances in which the truthfulness of the Phy¬ sician is sometimes put to the test, which have proved a stumbling-block to many, and to which I would briefly refer. He is for instance some¬ times nailed upon to give a decided opinion in cases of emergency, when it is feared, from its unfavourable nature, that it is calculated to alarm the patient and possibly to lessen the prospect of his recovery. What then is his duty ? Is he justified in practising deceit and falsehood under the apprehension that a more conscientious course might be fraught with danger to the patient and distress to his friends, or is he morally bound strictly to adhere to the truth ? It is held by many, that under such circumstances a deviation from the truth is allowable, and that we are not only sanctioned in giving evasive answers, in clothing our opinion in the language of caution and of doubt, but that we are justified in telling a deliberate lie, when we have reason to fear that the statement of the simple truth might be attended with danger or inconvenience. I do not lay claim to any higher sense of morality than my neighbours, but I am disposed to doubt if we are, under any circumstances, justified in thus violating the laws of God, and to question the necessity for such a pro¬ cedure. It is so difficult to form an accurate judgment of the mental emotions and the natural feelings of individuals when suffering under severe or painful maladies, to ascertain how far they may be modified, and how they may be influenced by surrounding circumstances, that we are apt to form a wrong estimate of their powers of endurance. I have known instances in which individuals of an anxious and nervous tempera¬ ment, have in a state of great feverish excitement and physical depression, received the announcement of heavy domestic calamities with greater com¬ posure than others in the enjoyment of health and strength; and in other instances I have witnessed the most favourable results upon the minds of patients from the candid and decided statement of the inevitably fatal termination of their malady; where a state of restless anxiety and deep concern, has been exchanged for one of calm composure and peaceful