Ethics (from the Greek ethos: character; ethika: morals, manners) is the scientific study of morals. Ethics serve as a guideline for the principles of human duty, based on the premise of Good being the precept for what is right and reasonable.

Asclepius - the god of medicine

The fundamental principles to which a physician should adhere whilst practising medicine are laid down in the Hippocratic oath. In Germany, this oath has been replaced by the "Artztgelöbnis" or Physician's Oath, which is based on the Hippocratic oath. Hippocrates lived between approximately 460 and 370 BC and is recognized as the "Father of Medicine". This is due to the fact that he was the first person to regard medicine as a study, looking for natural explanations of illness and thus moving away from the belief that the cause of illness could be explained by religion and sorcery. At the same time he laid down certain ethical guidelines which were embraced by practising physicians as a code of honour. In its original version, the Hippocratic oath forbids doctors to perform abortion, euthanasia and surgery. Physicians were bound not to engage in relations of a sexual nature with patients and to treat all information entrusted to them confidentially (medical confidentiality).

Some of the principles laid down in the Hippocratic oath are still valid today, particularly the importance of medical confidentiality and the safeguarding of the patient's interests. Conversely, some aspects are no longer appropriate in today's world, such as the intolerance of euthanasia, currently a controversial topic, and of abortion. In Germany the Physician's Oath is part of the Professional Code of Conduct. Practising physicians are governed by the General Medical Council (Aerztekammer) on both regional and federal levels, to ensure that physicians honour their oath and uphold the ethics of medical practice. Cases of medical malpractice are examined by courts set up specifically for this purpose.

Doctors as mere puppets of monetary politics?

The practice of medicine is intrinsically linked to a web of ethical, moral and pecuniary standards.

In the last few years, financially restrictive measures have had increasingly more influence on the availability of medical treatments. In order to maintain financial stability within the national health care system, funding of the health service has been so drastically reduced that we find ourselves moving more and more towards a two-class medical system.

Since over 90 percent of Germans use the National Health Service (geseztliche Krankenkassen), almost every patient seeking treatment will be affected by these cuts, particularly in out-patient areas. This will lead to reductions in both medical treatment and in the prescription of drugs, curtailing the hitherto exemplary German health care system.

The Brandenburg gate - then and now

An example of these cuts is that the National Health Service continues to refuse to fund the successfully tried and tested (tests ran nation-wide for 5 years) combined salt bath/ultraviolet light therapy. This has proved to be a great disappointment to the many sufferers of neurodermatitis and psoriasis and their physicians.

We, as physicians, are the advocates of our patients. Even in this confusing and sometimes contradictory world we live in, the principles laid down by Hippocrates are still valid.

Thus, our motto can only be to provide the best care possible.

Praxis Dr.med. Erik Senger - Impressum - Last updated: