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Renzo Bruni

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What should be the first law of medicine ?

Many wrongly ascribe "Primum non nocere/Do no harm" to the Hippocratic Oath, although it is NOT really found there. Hippocrates apparently did say that, or write that phrase, but it was in his "Epidemics". Should not the First Law of Medicine rather be "Primum bonum facere/First do good" (et secundum non nocere). Would this not summarize the role of modern physicians, nurses, providers and therapists better than a nostrum ("Primum non nocere/Do no harm") that might be interpreted as to justify holding back on any therapy which has side effects. Does not this new First Law of Medicine justify all interventions which might help, and allow more adaptability to the real situation by admitting that 'helping' is the moral role of providers?

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    Rafi Amin 20+

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    Aug 25 2011: Side Effects.
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      Marcin Kasiak 200+

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      HostTED TranslatorAssociate
      Aug 25 2011: don't understand - what about them?
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        Rafi Amin 20+

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        Aug 27 2011: These are adverse reactions of medicines. When we take medicines like antibiotics along that it kills harmful bacteria it also kills millions of useful bacteria in our body that later it becomes another illness.

        I think doctors usually dont disclose this.

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