A Code of Medical Ethics

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can usually download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1878 edition. Excerpt: ... 3. When during sickness, affliction, or absence from home, a practitioner entrusts the care of his practice to a professional friend, the latter should not make any charge to the former, or to the patients for his services, hut should in all things be the locum, tenens of the absentee. If, however, the attendance be protracted, and the labour proportionate, a fitting acknowledgment should, if circumstances admit, be made. 4. When a practitioner attends for, or in consultation with another, and it appears necessary to change the treatment, it should be done with the most scrupulous care, so as not to injure the reputation or wound the feelings of the previous attendant. Cfo-necessary, meddlesome interference with the treatment should be carefully avoided as unjust to the family doctor, and derogatory to true science. 5. When a practitioner is consulted by a patient whom he has previously attended as the officiating friend of another during sickness or absence from home, he should act in strict accord with the principle laid down in Ilule 9, and decline attendance, except in consultation. 6. When a practitioner is ill or absent from home, and the patient wishes to have a medical man of his own choice, rather than the officiating friend, the practitioner so elected should act in accordance with the following rule: --7. When a practitioner is called to an urgent case in a family usually attended by another, he should (unless his assistance in consultation be desired, ) when the emergency is provided for or on the arrival of the attendant in ordinary, resign the case to the latter--but he is entitled to charge the family for his services. 8. Whenever a patient, whose usual medical adviser resides at a distance, sends for a practitioner residing.