THE HISTORY OF

MEDICAL ETHICS
Mentor: Sonja Koren, prof.
Academic year: 2014./2015.
Student: Mateja Skok

TABLE OF CONTENTS
What is medical ethics?
Medical ethics function
Code of Hammurabi
Hippocratic Oath
A Thousand Golden Remedies
Advancement of medical ethics
Medical ethics today
Questiones


W H AT I S M E D I C A L E T H I C S ?
system of moral principles that apply values and
judgments to the practice of medicine
scholarly discipline
four principles:

respect for autonomy

beneficence
non maleficence
justice

MEDICAL ETHICS FUNCTION

protection of the rights and interests of the patient
defending the interests and rights of those who
provide medical care
medicine is defending its area of operations and
activities

CODE OF
HAMMURABI
2100 years BC
list of medical services
contains penalties

HIPPOCRATIC OATH
5th century BC
considered as the start of the
medical ethics
completely forgotten until 11th
century when it was restored by
Arabs
accepted in 19th century

I swear by Apollo the physician, and Aesculapius

the surgeon, likewise Hygeia and Panacea, and call
all the gods and goddesses to witness, that I will
observe and keep this underwritten oath, to the
utmost of my power and judgment.
Nor shall any man's entreaty prevail upon me to
administer poison to anyone; neither will I counsel
any man to do so. Moreover, I will get no sort of
medicine to any pregnant woman, with a view to
destroy the child.
I will not cut for the stone, but will commit that
affair entirely to the surgeons.

A THOUSAND GOLDEN REMEDIES

Sun Su Miao
China, 5th century

Aristocrat or commoner, poor or rich, aged or

young, beautiful or ugly, enemy or friend, native or
foreighner, and educated or uneducated, all are to be
treated equally.
He should look upon the misery of the patient as if
it were his own and be anxious to relieve the
distress, disregarding his own inconveniences, such
as night-call, bad weather, hunger, tiredness, etc.

A D VA N C E M E N T O F M E D I C A L E T H I C S
Gothic right - recognition of doctor's fees only if
the treatment is successful
Nazi use of medicine - flourishing of medical ethics

MEDICAL ETHICS
TODAY
The UN Charter
Life is priceless
Health is priceless
Every human being
comes into the world
with equal rights to
health, to live
in dignity and
security

Corruption in health
care
Abortion
Euthanasia

QUESTIONES
Euthanasia and abortion - Yes or no?
How would you prevent corruption in health care?