Primum Non Nocere

In the world of the ancient Greek, the ill would fall asleep in temples dedicated to the god Hippocrates, hoping that he would visit them in dreams and cure whatever ailed them. This is the origin of the organized medical practice, and created the Hippocratic Oath. This oath is still said, in some form or another, by every medical professional that's passed through a university. It basically outlines that the doctor will act humanely, professionally, and put the patients best interests before anything else. One of the biggest parts of that oath is the phrase "Primum Non Nocere", which in the English version reads "above all, do no harm". This is basically what medicine is, putting the most benefit for the patient above all else. Since it is impossible to do anything without harming anyone, this is typically taken to mean minimizing the harm done as much as possible.

Many people don't understand what this means. They confuse the word "harm" with the word "pain". A procedure may cause a lot of pain, but if it is for the best, then it is the doctor's duty to perform it. Take, for instance, the case of abortion. I've heard the Oath used against doctors practicing abortions many, many times over, but is it with cause? Is it harming the patient to have an abortion? Of course, there is significant emotional trauma. But let's face it, it is for the best in the end. If you are getting an abortion, then you have a pretty good reason. So is it professionally ethical to perform them? The answer is yes.

The same question applies to basically every other procedure, from cold sores to assisted suicide. It is worth reiterating the single fact that it is a physician's position to find the situation of the least harm, not no harm, because it is impossible to do something without harming someone. This is crucial, because I am sick of the so called "moral guardians" tying the hands of our doctors and scientists in the name of their misguided morals. Are there some unscrupulous doctors in the world? Yes. Could there be quite a few? Yes. But does that mean that the government should tie the hands of the people trying to make the world better just because some idiots with no scientific training think they know what they speak of?

Here's a tip, people. Yes, there are corrupt scientists, and corrupt physicians. But until you get a degree in the field, let alone a PhD, stop bitching about it. You don't know what you're saying, and your opinion is only effective on the other idiots like yourself. Alas, many of those idiots are also politicians, but that's for another day.

Love always,
Grimm