This classic essay on the responsibilities of a doctor was first published in New York in 1769. It remains a perfect gift for a young doctor just starting out or for one who is older and wiser. This classic will be an inspiration to any who read its timeless message.
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5.0 out of 5 stars
Timeless,
This review is from: Discourse Upon the Duties of a Physician (Little Books of Wisdom) (Hardcover)
A poignant address. In succinct, eloquent English, Bard captures many of the core ideals of medicine that remain (or should remain) to this day.
5.0 out of 5 stars
Great Gift for Anyone Going into Medicine,
By fredtownward "The Analytical Mind; Have Brain... (Mocksville, North Carolina, United States) - See all my reviews (VINE VOICE)
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This review is from: Discourse Upon the Duties of a Physician (Little Books of Wisdom) (Hardcover)
Note: Amazon has grouped together reviews of several different editions of this book; this review is for A Discourse Upon the Duties of a Physician (Little Books of Wisdom).
You might think that there is little to be learned from a 240-year-old medical school commencement address, but the significance is that it became the first American book on medical ethics when it was published in book form in 1769, and while medicine itself has advanced enormously in the intervening quarter millennium, medical ethics have not. (In fact one could argue that in an era of abortion on demand and a right to die rapidly becoming a duty to die, medical ethics have significantly declined.) As it turns out, there is quite a lot in here that is utterly timeless. For example while it is almost a cliche to tell graduates that if they would be successful, their learning has only just begun, Dr. Bard tells this class that because they hold people's very lives in their hands, it is rather their sacred DUTY to keep learning, for how pathetically inadequate is telling the grieving survivors of a mistake that, "I knew no better!" Much of the rest is just good conduct and common sense: always behave towards fellow physicians with integrity, candor, and delicacy; do not try to build your success on the ruins of another's reputation; do not pretend to any secret remedy because if it actually worked, it would be your duty to disclose it; always treat your patients and their families with the utmost kindness and consideration; encourage without raising false hopes; be careful in joking with patients; etc. Note: One could complain that this book is available online for free. Well, yes, what part of in the public domain do you not understand? However, trying to get away with giving someone a printout as a gift will earn you the nickname of cheapskate. If all you want to do is read it yourself, then by all means stick to the free sites. However, if you are looking for a way to get through to someone else, you are better off buying a copy, and a solitary sawbuck for this sturdy pocket-sized reprint is going to be tough to beat. The chief virtue of it being online is your ability to read it first and make sure that this is the book you want to give before ordering it. Note: Applewood Books has produced a nice looking inexpensive series of sturdy pocket-sized reprints of important American books, documents, speeches, pamphlets, and poems, the Little Books of Wisdom, uniform with this volume, that are ideal for gifting to doctors, lawyers, teachers, business professionals, and students of same: The Way to Wealth, George Washington's Rules of Civility & Decent Behavior in Company and Conversation, The Constitution of the United States of America, On the Art of Teaching, The Poems of Abraham Lincoln, The Bill of Rights with Writings That Formed Its Foundation, The Strenuous Life, The Path of the Law, The Constitution of the Confederate States of America, The Jefferson Bible: The Life and Morals of Jesus of Nazareth, A Message to Garcia, A Declaration of Sentiments, Robert's Rules of Order, Good Citizenship, On Being Human, The Declaration of Independence with Short Biographies of Its Signers, Teamwork, Stick-To-Itiveness, Opportunity, & You, The Wants of Man, George Washington's Farewell Address, Universal Declaration of Human Rights, The Speech of Chief Seattle, Common Sense, The Articles of Confederation, The Emancipation Proclamation, and The Gospel of Wealth. Some selected volumes are also available in boxed sets: Books of American Wisdom Boxed Set, CEO's Gift Box of Wisdom, Doctor's Gift Box of Wisdom, Lawyer's Gift Box of Wisdom, New Citizen's Gift Box of Wisdom, and Teacher's Gift Box of Wisdom. And some have been published in Spanish: Un Mensaje a Garcia and Constitucion de Los Estados Unidos.
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Inside This Book
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First Sentence:
THAT this Country has, ever since its Discovery and Settlement, laboured under the greatest Disadvantages, from the imperfect Manner, in which Students have been instructed in the Principles of Medicine; and from the Consequent prevailing Ignorance of but too many of its Professors; is a Truth which cannot be contested; and of which many unhappy Families have severely felt the fatal Effects. Read the first page New!
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THAT this Country has, ever since its Discovery and Settlement, laboured under the greatest Disadvantages, from the imperfect Manner, in which Students have been instructed in the Principles of Medicine; and from the Consequent prevailing Ignorance of but too many of its Professors; is a Truth which cannot be contested; and of which many unhappy Families have severely felt the fatal Effects. Read the first page New!
Concordance | Text Stats Browse Sample Pages:
Front Cover | First Pages | Back Cover | Surprise Me!
Citations (learn more)
3
books
cite this book:
- Secrets: On the Ethics of Concealment and Revelation by Sissela Bok in Back Matter
- The Care of Strangers: The Rise of America's Hospital System by Charles E. Rosenberg in Back Matter
- New York Intellect: A History of Intellectual Life in New York City from 1750 to the Beginnings of Our Own Time by Thomas Bender on page 34
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