Some Aspects of the Legal Responsibility of Medical Men

Abstract

From the earliest times of which we have any authentic records, the Responsibilities, Liabilities, and Privileges of Medical Men have been the subject of Legislation. Yet the measure of that Responsibility has varied greatly in times past and amongst divers nations. The oldest known code of Laws promulgated by Hammurabi, King of Babylon during the period 2285-2242 H.C., and which is believed by learned scholars of Assyriology to embody the best judical decisions prior to that period enacted the privileges, fees and serious liabilities of those venturesome enough to practice medicine and surgery. After laying down a scale of fees which then, as now, varied with the social status of the patient, but which fees were only payable after cure of such lesions as " shattered limbs," "diseased bowels," and" abscess of the eyes," the code proceeds :" If the doctor has treated a gentleman for a severe wound with a lancet of bronze, and has caused the gentleman to die, or has opened an abscess of the eye for a gentleman with a bronze lancet, and has caused the loss of the gentleman's eye, one shall cut off his hands."