Chapter: 5.1 Medical Ethics Introduction

Introduction
The Medical Ethics has been an integral part of the medical education from the ancient times. Great care was taken to select the right type of students to study the art and science of medicine under the overall supervision of the learned teachers. Much importance was attached to the moral and social values since the physician had to deal with family members in their home environment. The emphasis was on simplicity of life and purity of thoughts and conduct. Respect for teachers was inculcated from the beginning. As time went on, things started deteriorating. The onus of ensuring a good standard of behavior, since then, is entrusted with professional bodies.

On completion of the medical education, an oath is administered which emphasis on the following points:

1. The physician must be neat and clean in appearance. Her dress should be simple.
2. The physician must be pure and good in her behavior. Her speech should be mild and pleasing.
3. The physician must not practice deceit. He should have brotherly feeling towards all creatures.
4. The physician must possess sufficient assistant and equipments required for her practice.
5. The physician should never visit the patients' house uninvited. He will not become friendly with the women of the household and stay with them when they are alone.
6. The physician will maintain good relations with other physicians.

Hippocrates, the Greek Physician who lived 25 centuries ago, also laid great emphasis on the ethical conduct of the physicians and formulated the famous Hippocratic Oath which was based on the principle, "where there is love of humanity, there will be love of medical professions". The Hippocratic Oath is reproduced in the Appendix 1. The basic principles are still valid.

The World Medical Association has simplified the Hippocratic Oath within the modern concept and is now termed as the Declaration of Geneva upon which the International Code of Medical Ethics is based. The declaration is also adopted by the Medical Council of India. This is reproduced in Appendix 2.