User ID
Password
New User  Forgot Password   
 
Search  
Back   
Aphorism 1
§1
The physician's high and only mission is to restore the sick to health, to cure, as it is termed.
Foot Note:
His mission is not, however, to construct so-called systems, by interweaving empty speculations and hypotheses concerning the internal essential nature of the vital processes and the mode in which diseases originate in the invisible interior of the organism, (whereon so many physicians have hitherto ambitiously wasted their talents and their time); nor is it to attempt to give countless explanations regarding the phenomena in diseases and their proximate cause (which must ever remain concealed), wrapped in unintelligible words and an inflated abstract mode of expression, which should sound very learned in order to astonish the ignorant-whilst sick humanity sighs in vain for aid. Of such learned reveries (to which the name of theoretic medicine is given, and for which special professorships are instituted) we have had quite enough, and it is now high time that all who call themselves physicians should at length cease to deceive suffering mankind with mere talk, and begin now, instead, for once to act, that is, really to help and to cure.
EXPLANATION
HAHNEMANN'S TIME
 Top
In the medieval era the practice of medicine was very theoretical and empirical. The physician spent lot of time in sounding learned and there was hardly any logic with respect to curing the disease. Most of the time the explanations were irrelevant, unnecessary and useless for the patients. Different concepts of disease are still floating around. The physician's explanation just makes him sound technologically and theoretically superior but this does not have any utility for patient. All this disgusted Dr.Hahnemann.
MODERN RELEVANCE
 Top
The physician is still struggling to explain the disease. A new theory like Genome, Immunological concept of disease, Psychosomatic concept, Biological (Bacterial and Viral) though explains in great detail the disease origin but they in no way give relief to the patient. This is especially true in case of chronic diseases. Toady's patient (especially in urban area) is well versed with disease conditions. With all the exposure to media and the Internet there is no need trying to explain the disease in detail to him it is of no help to him and does not cure the illness in him.

Dr.Hahnemann insisted that the physician should stop all this charade and concentrate and utilize all his energy to start acting constructively and give relief to the patient. His mission should be to cure the patient and not just give theories of the possible cause of disease and its possible relief. The word mission implies that if you are on a mission, there is something that you must try to achieve and it is your duty to do so. It also adds a higher purpose to the life of the physician where his sole duty is to cure the sick and not merely speculate on his illness. His job is like that of a missionary and it is continuous; he has to guide the patient towards health. So this aphorism holds true in today's medical practice where the physician is mostly rushed and impatient. He should use all his resources to cure the ill individual irrespective of patient's status. The patient's socio-economic status should not influence his approach towards the treatment. All physicians irrespective of the system he is praticing he must follow this principle to achieve better success in curing the patient. Pluto is known to have said that a true physician is the one, who in the middle of the night goes to the poorest of the house and not only treats but also shares his bread with the patient if required.
CASE :
 Top
A 28 years old young female came with the complain of multiple cervical lymphadenopathy, who after going to several doctors and many more hypothesis about her condition and what can be done in her case to give her relief with subsequent medications she found no relief. She was finally diagnosed after an FNAC (Fine Needle Aspiration Biopsy) to be having Kikuchi's Lymphadenopathy.These theories did not give any relief to the patient but only prolonged the illness and confusion in the patient's mind. All the physicians sounded learned and they did not cure the patient, and made them appear rather inefficient in curing her. The patient when given the right medicine responded favorably within the week and got completely cured within the month was able to appreciate the efficacy of the doctor and the system.