A 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.

  • De Styrap, Jukes, 1815-1899.
Date:
1878
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: A 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. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by University of Bristol Library. The original may be consulted at University of Bristol Library.

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    entrusted, we shall one day have to render an account before a tribunal which cannot err. 'Tis not to be denied that the duties of a medical practitioner are often onerous, often painful; nevertheless there is a singular interest blended with the practice of our profession. For instance, the successful issue of cases—the triumph of science and art over what appeared intractable—the restoration from seeming death of the fond doting mother, the affectionate father, the be- loved child,—these impress upon the heart of the medical man a joy as exquisite in degree as that pervading the spirit of those who are more closely and' more deeply interested in the event; and even when death, with outstretched arms, has claimed them as its own, and they are about to bid adieu to the scenes in which they have moved,—surely it is a gift to be envied, and a power to be prized, that we can mitigate their sufferings, and introduce them (so to speak) witli gentleness to the spirit of the tomb. Yes ! there are indeed many bright and beautiful phases in the practice of our art—sun-bright spots in the oft clouded oasis of medical life, on which the eye rests with satisfaction, and the soul is gladdened! Truly, our calling is sacred—our mission sublime! Wlaere, we would ask, has philanthropy a wider field for its exercise—where a more genial culture, or more devoted service ? Where, beyond our ranks, can men be found more laborious and self-sacrificing, more devoted (without the hope of fee or reward) to the good of mankind ? Sad, indeed, is it that the brightness of such a pictured mirror should be darkened by the shadow of our one great besetting sin, the bane of professional, as of social life—jealousy—a spirit not only most inimical to our interests, but most derogatory to our man- hood. And here we would remark, that so long as petty jealousy and local rivalry stimulate men to do injustice to their brother- hood, so long will the public withhold from them that respect to ■which an opposite line of conduct would entitle them. The Leoislature, by the enactment of well considered laws, may do much to improve our position: but until we are true to our- selves, true to the ethics of our profession, we shall always, in the eyes of the public, remain inferior to the other pro- fessions. In deploring this state, and with au earnest desire to remove