Non-maleficence, which is derived from the maxim, is one of the principal precepts of bioethics that all students in healthcare are taught in school and is a fundamental principle throughout the world. Another way to state it is that, "given an existing problem, it may be better not to do something, or even to do nothing, than to risk causing more harm than good." It reminds healthcare personnel to consider the possible harm that any intervention might do. It is invoked when debating the use of an intervention that carries an obvious risk of harm but a less certain chance of benefit.[citation needed]
Non-maleficence is often contrasted with its corollary,[vague]beneficence. Young and Wagner argued that, for healthcare professionals and other professionals subject to a moral code, in general beneficence takes priority over non-maleficence (“first, do good,” not “first, do no harm”) both historically and philosophically.[2]
The origin of the phrase is uncertain. Some early versions of the Hippocratic Oath include the promise "to abstain from doing harm" (Greek: ἐπὶ δηλήσει δὲ καὶ ἀδικίῃ εἴρξειν) but do not include the precise phrase. Perhaps the closest approximation in the Hippocratic Corpus is in Epidemics:[3] "The physician must ... have two special objects in view with regard to disease, namely, to do good or to do no harm" (book I, sect. 11, trans. Adams, Greek: ἀσκέειν, περὶ τὰ νοσήματα, δύο, ὠφελέειν, ἢ μὴ βλάπτειν).
According to Gonzalo Herranz, Professor of Medical Ethics at the University of Navarre, Primum non nocere was introduced into American and British medical culture by Worthington Hooker in his 1847 book Physician and Patient. Hooker attributed it to the Parisian pathologist and clinician Auguste François Chomel (1788–1858), the successor of Laennec in the chair of medical pathology, and the preceptor of Pierre Louis. Apparently, the axiom was part of Chomel's oral teaching.[4] Hooker, however, was quoting an earlier work by Elisha Bartlett[5] who, on pages 288–289, says "The golden axiom of Chomel, that it is only the second law of therapeutics to do good, its first law being this – not to do harm – is gradually finding its way into the medical mind, preventing an incalculable amount of positive ill.”
However, Hooker used neither the specific expression, nor the traditional Latin phrase. A detailed investigation of the origins of the aphorism was reported by the clinical pharmacologist Cedric M. Smith in the April 2005 issue of The Journal of Clinical Pharmacology.[6] It addresses the questions of the origin and chronology of appearance of the maxim. Rather than being of ancient origin as usually assumed, the specific expression, and its even more distinctive associated Latin phrase, has been traced back to an attribution to Thomas Sydenham (1624–1689) in a book by Thomas Inman (1860), Foundation for a New Theory and Practice of Medicine. Inman's book and his attribution were reviewed by an author who signed simply as "H. H." in The American Journal of the Medical Sciences, also in 1860.[7] An American surgeon, L.A. Stimson, used the expression in 1879 and again in 1906 (in the same journal). That it was in common use by the 20th century is apparent from later mentions, such as by the prominent obstetricianJ. Whitridge Williams in 1911, as well as detailed discussion of its use in a popular book authored by Dr. Morris Fishbein, editor of The Journal of the American Medical Association in 1930.
The article also reviews the various uses of the now popular aphorism, its limitations as a moral injunction, and its increasingly frequent use in a variety of contexts.
^Primum non nocere – Tells why "primum non nocere" is not actually from Hippocrates, but is a phrase in the Epidemics
^"The origin of primum non nocere." British Medical Journal electronic responses and commentary, 1 September 2002.
^An Essay on the Philosophy of Medical Science, Lea & Blanchard, 1844
^Smith, C. M. (2005). "Origin and Uses of Primum Non Nocere – Above All, Do No Harm!". The Journal of Clinical Pharmacology. 45 (4): 371–77. doi:10.1177/0091270004273680. PMID 15778417. S2CID 41058798.
Article presenting various views on the principle of "Do no harm"
November 27, 2023
primum, nocere, this, article, about, phrase, film, first, harm, this, article, needs, additional, citations, verification, please, help, improve, this, article, adding, citations, reliable, sources, unsourced, material, challenged, removed, find, sources, new. This article is about the phrase For the film see First Do No Harm This article needs additional citations for verification Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources Unsourced material may be challenged and removed Find sources Primum non nocere news newspapers books scholar JSTOR April 2015 Learn how and when to remove this template message Primum non nocere Classical Latin ˈpriːmũː noːn nɔˈkeːrɛ is a Latin phrase that means first do no harm The phrase is sometimes recorded as primum nil nocere 1 better source needed Non maleficence which is derived from the maxim is one of the principal precepts of bioethics that all students in healthcare are taught in school and is a fundamental principle throughout the world Another way to state it is that given an existing problem it may be better not to do something or even to do nothing than to risk causing more harm than good It reminds healthcare personnel to consider the possible harm that any intervention might do It is invoked when debating the use of an intervention that carries an obvious risk of harm but a less certain chance of benefit citation needed Non maleficence is often contrasted with its corollary vague beneficence Young and Wagner argued that for healthcare professionals and other professionals subject to a moral code in general beneficence takes priority over non maleficence first do good not first do no harm both historically and philosophically 2 Contents 1 Origin 2 See also 3 References 4 External linksOrigin editThe origin of the phrase is uncertain Some early versions of the Hippocratic Oath include the promise to abstain from doing harm Greek ἐpὶ dhlhsei dὲ kaὶ ἀdikiῃ eἴr3ein but do not include the precise phrase Perhaps the closest approximation in the Hippocratic Corpus is in Epidemics 3 The physician must have two special objects in view with regard to disease namely to do good or to do no harm book I sect 11 trans Adams Greek ἀskeein perὶ tὰ noshmata dyo ὠfeleein ἢ mὴ blaptein According to Gonzalo Herranz Professor of Medical Ethics at the University of Navarre Primum non nocere was introduced into American and British medical culture by Worthington Hooker in his 1847 book Physician and Patient Hooker attributed it to the Parisian pathologist and clinician Auguste Francois Chomel 1788 1858 the successor of Laennec in the chair of medical pathology and the preceptor of Pierre Louis Apparently the axiom was part of Chomel s oral teaching 4 Hooker however was quoting an earlier work by Elisha Bartlett 5 who on pages 288 289 says The golden axiom of Chomel that it is only the second law of therapeutics to do good its first law being this not to do harm is gradually finding its way into the medical mind preventing an incalculable amount of positive ill However Hooker used neither the specific expression nor the traditional Latin phrase A detailed investigation of the origins of the aphorism was reported by the clinical pharmacologist Cedric M Smith in the April 2005 issue of The Journal of Clinical Pharmacology 6 It addresses the questions of the origin and chronology of appearance of the maxim Rather than being of ancient origin as usually assumed the specific expression and its even more distinctive associated Latin phrase has been traced back to an attribution to Thomas Sydenham 1624 1689 in a book by Thomas Inman 1860 Foundation for a New Theory and Practice of Medicine Inman s book and his attribution were reviewed by an author who signed simply as H H in The American Journal of the Medical Sciences also in 1860 7 An American surgeon L A Stimson used the expression in 1879 and again in 1906 in the same journal That it was in common use by the 20th century is apparent from later mentions such as by the prominent obstetrician J Whitridge Williams in 1911 as well as detailed discussion of its use in a popular book authored by Dr Morris Fishbein editor of The Journal of the American Medical Association in 1930 The article also reviews the various uses of the now popular aphorism its limitations as a moral injunction and its increasingly frequent use in a variety of contexts See also edit nbsp Medicine portal nbsp Philosophy portalAhimsa Cobra effect Ethics Harm principle Meta ethics Non aggression principle Non violence Nursing ethics Physician heal thyself Principle of double effect Principlism First Do No HarmReferences edit Google book search 1800 1970 Young Michael Wagner Angela 2023 Medical Ethics StatPearls Treasure Island FL StatPearls Publishing PMID 30570982 retrieved 2023 11 24 Primum non nocere Tells why primum non nocere is not actually from Hippocrates but is a phrase in the Epidemics The origin of primum non nocere British Medical Journal electronic responses and commentary 1 September 2002 An Essay on the Philosophy of Medical Science Lea amp Blanchard 1844 Smith C M 2005 Origin and Uses of Primum Non Nocere Above All Do No Harm The Journal of Clinical Pharmacology 45 4 371 77 doi 10 1177 0091270004273680 PMID 15778417 S2CID 41058798 Inman Thomas 1860 Hays Isaac ed Book review of Foundation for a New Theory and Practice of Medicine The American Journal of the Medical Sciences Philadelphia PA Blanchard and Lea XL 450 58 External links editArticle presenting various views on the principle of Do no harm Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Primum non nocere amp oldid 1186596726, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
