In recent times, 'medicine' has certainly hit it's low
Good afternoon fellow Patriots. Once upon a time in America, outside your immediate family, two people you could trust when in came to matters and concerns for your health was your family physician and your local independent pharmacist. Hospitals were locally managed and controlled by the members of the community, and staffed by the doctors living in the community or surrounding area.
Specialists were brought in on an as needed basis, or patients were referred to the nearest medical center, usually a university hospital with an associated medical school, when complex medical issues required specialist consultation. There were no mandatory treatment protocols that physicians must follow when caring for patients. Physicians were free to use their training, diagnostic skills supported by necessary testing procedures to ensure appropriate, proper and ethical treatment pursuant to their Hippocratic Oath. The most widely accepted short form translation of said Oath within the public domain is “…first do no harm”. However a complete translation would read as follows:
“I will follow that system of regimen which, according to my ability and judgment, I consider for the benefit of my patients, and abstain from whatever is deleterious and mischievous.”