: The Hospital Bulletin Vol. V No. 2 April 15 1909 by Various - Medicine Periodicals; Medical colleges Alumni and alumnae Maryland Baltimore Periodicals

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THE HOSPITAL BULLETIN

Published Monthly in the Interest of the Medical Department of the University of Maryland

PRICE .00 PER YEAR

Contributions invited from the Alumni of the University. Business Address, Baltimore, Md.

Entered at the Baltimore Post-office as Second Class Matter.

VOL. V BALTIMORE, Md., APRIL 15, 1909 No. 2

THE ETHICS OF THE GENERAL PRACTITIONER.

BY GUY STEELE, M. D. Of Cambridge, Md.

A celebrated divine once said that the most difficult part of a sermon was the selection of a proper text. I must thank the President of this society for saving me this trouble. When, however, Webster's is consulted for a proper definition of the word "Ethics," and it is found to mean "The science of human duty," it would seem that he has chosen a text almost too comprehensive for the limits of a short paper, even when restricted to the "ethics of the medical profession." It may not be out of place to thank him for the honor he has conferred upon me by deeming one whose student days are scarce twelve years behind him worthy of presenting this subject to you, for a paper on this topic is almost of itself a sermon, and we naturally look up to those, whose many years of experience and works have brought them prominence, for instruction in morals and duty. Still, I take it, whether young or old, all of us like to preach on fitting occasions, and not the least part of the inspiration to effort is the character of the audience. My invitation was to read a paper before the Clinical Society, and incidentally I was told that some of the students had expressed a desire to be present. Little, however, did I anticipate such a flattering attendance from them when examination time so nearly approached, and it is evidence of a most commendable spirit when they can bring themselves to take even an hour of their most valuable time from study to devote to a consideration of the moral duties and responsibilities which shall be theirs when they shall have passed through the April ordeal. Much that I have to say tonight will be directed especially to them, and if they or their elders in the profession may in the years to come look back upon this night with the recollection that I have more forcibly brought to mind some of the old and half-forgotten maxims and axioms that make for a better and purer professional life, I will have been more than repaid for the time I have expended in the preparation of this paper.

In discussing the ethics of the general practitioner towards his patient, I would have you remember that your first and most important duty is to give to those who trust you the very best that is in you.

To you young men, full of enthusiasm for your new profession, and imbued with Utopian ideas of the mission which you have undertaken for the good of mankind, it would seem almost foolish for me to mention this as the first advice I would offer you. But I think I can see a smile of understanding flit across the faces of those who have for some years fought the battle of life, and who have had the wire edge of early ambitions and determinations blunted by contact with unappreciative patients and unworthy professional competition and the daily incidents of a busy life. They know that it is very easy to feel too tired, or be too busy, or have some other engrossing affair in mind which prevents that entire devotion to duty which all admit is essential to success in medicine. Half of success in life or in any undertaking is due to a successful start; therefore, let me ask you to firmly determine on one or two fixed principles, and to stick to those principles through thick and thin. Be fully assured that no halfway devotion to your profession will ever bring you prominence or success. The time-worn phrase that "Medicine is a jealous mistress" loses none of its truth by frequent repetition. Recently I saw in a prominent medical journal the advice given that doctors should take a prominent part in politics and bring themselves forward in other ways, and that thereby in some way unknown to me the glory of the profession would be enhanced, and much benefit result to the community. Far be it from me to discourage a proper civic spirit and a proper interest in public affairs, or to advise an avoidance of any duty which good citizenship imposes upon every honest, patriotic man, whatever his business or profession. But I take it that no more baneful, no more dangerous advice can be given to our young professional man than this. You cannot be successful in both politics and medicine, and while we can point to one member of our profession in the United States Senate, and to some notable exceptions in our own State, where men of our profession have, for a time, abandoned medicine and returned to it to win success, you can rest assured that the medical politician possesses little beyond a musty diploma to remind the world that he was once of our cult. So don't be a halfway politician and halfway doctor. Success in either field will take all of your best effort and all of your time.

What I have said of politics will apply, though not quite so forcibly, to any other engrossing business or pleasure. Time forbids me to elaborate this idea, and in concluding it let me say that you cannot be a successful politician, merchant, sport or what not and carry medicine as a side line.

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