An ethical symposium : being a series of papers concerning medical ethics and etiquette from the liberal standpoint

Front matter

AN

Ethical Symposium

BEING A SERIES OF PAPERS CONCERNING MEDICAL ETHICS AND ETIQUETTE FROM THE LIBERAL STANDPOINT

Preface

The collection of papers herewith presented in the form of a literary symposium, has its origin in a suggestion made by the publishers to a member of the " Society for the Prevention of the Re-enactment in the State of New York of the Present Code of Ethics of the American Medical Association." It was suggested to this member, that inasmuch as the distinguished President of that Association had written a volume on " Medical Ethics and Etiquette," apparently with a view to defend the old code, and to assist in its re-enactment in this State, it would be expedient for some of the representative members of the Profession in the State of New York, to state why they consider Dr. Flints arguments insufficient, and why they believe the re-enactment of the old code would be injurious to the interests of the Profession, and of the community, which it is the duty of the Profession to serve.

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PREFACE.

This suggestion of the Messrs. Putnam, was cheerfully adopted by the Council of the Society opposed to the re-enactment of the old code, and an editor was appointed to collect the necessary papers, and to arrange them for publication.

The object of this little book, therefore, is to place before the reader, the motives which induced a large number of the medical men of the State of New York, to dissent from some of the rules, which have hitherto controlled and guided them in their intercourse with themselves and the public. The action of the Medical Society of the State of New York, in modifying its code of ethics, has led to warm discussion and criticism ; some of it has been unfavorable, because the critics have not always been in a fair position to judge of the reasons why the change was desirable. That it was desirable there is no doubt, and the State Society so decided after a long and careful consideration of the circumstances of the case.

Probably a great deal of the adverse criticism has been induced by a misunderstanding of the position of medical affairs in the State of New York, as well as the object which was sought to be attained by the modification in the code. This will be removed by the explanation and

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V statements made by the writers who have consented to furnish the articles contained in this book, in refutation of the charges made that the Medical Profession had degraded its good name by countenancing, if not allying itself with, quackery. This is unqualifiedly false. The medical profession of the State of New York has not done any such thing, nor has it the least desire to do so. The names of those prominently identified with this movement, names known and honored throughout the country, is a sufficient guarantee that no attempt to dishonor the fair name of the Profession of Medicine would receive the slightest favor at their hands. It had been long felt, that the code of ethics which obtained in the State of New York was an instrument which, however good at the time it was framed, no longer met the needs of the Medical Profession in the State ; that its restrictions, if complied with, were embarrassing and absurd ; that it did not command the respect of the Profession, and that it was no longer a living power, in guiding the sentiments of the medical men of the State. Moreover, the restrictions touching consultations with so-called irregulars, savored too much of the arbitrary rules of a trade-union, gave too strong a handle to quacks by raising the cry of persecution

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on partisan grounds, and were a serious obstacle in the way of legislative medical reform. Hence the necessity for a modification was felt to be well grounded, the only question being how to make the change so as to force the attention of the Medical Profession of the country at large to the shortcomings of the code of the American Medical Association, which had been adopted as one of the by-laws of our State Society. From past experience it was felt that it would be useless to present the matter to the American Medical Association for action, and it was decided that the change should be made by the State Medical Society, leaving the future to decide as to the wisdom of the movement. That it would arouse discussion and provoke criticism was expected, and it is evident to those who have followed the matter in the medical journals, that this expectation has been realized ; and although some of the criticisms bestowed upon the advocates of this measure savor of bigoted intolerance, there has been in the main a disposition to discuss the question in a temperate tone. And this is a healthy sign, for much of the blind veneration of the code " of the fathers," has been bred more of ignorance than of knowledge, and the more it is read and studied, the more

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apparent becomes the fact that the day of its usefulness has passed. It is only a question of time as to the abolition of the code, and when that time arrives, the Profession of Medicine will be rid of one of the greatest obstacles to a proper reform in medical matters.

F. R. S.

New York, September, 1883.