History of medical practice in Illinois - Bushnell Historical Society

38 History of Medical Practice in Illinoisthis number. The faculty of every medical college or chartered school ofmedicine was allowed two delegates. The professional staff of everychartered or municipal hospital and every permanently organized medicalinstitution of good standing could send one delegate. Therefore, theseearly organizers planned that their Society would grow, and to the originaltwenty-nine members of 1850, there were thirty-one added in 1851.The First Code of Ethics. These early physicians set about as their firstorder of business to establish that intangible, elusive quality—ethics. Underthese high standards they waved the various banners of "the duties ofphysicians to their Patients"; this was first and foremost even as it is today.Then followed a list of the "Obligations of Patients to their Physicians."However, these physicians had no public relations bureau to publicize thepublic's duty toward them. These tireless family doctors said, hopefully:"A patient should never weary his physician with a tedious detail of eventsor matters not pertaining to his disease."Article I of the Code of Ethics discusses the "Duties of Physicians toEach Other and to the Profession at Large." Duties are listed for the supportof professional character, for "Professional Services of Physicians toEach Other.""Duties of the Profession tothe Public and of the Obligations of thePublic to the Profession" are presented.A special short chapter, Article VI of Chapter II, deals with differencesbetween physicians. "This is indeed a deplorable state," they felt, "but ifand when such a diversity of opinion exists it should be referred to thearbitration of a sufficient number of physicians, or a court-medical."1851— PeoriaRoutine business filled the first full day of the June 3rd meeting. Suchwas also true of the morning session of June 4, 1851. However, in the afternoona new committee was appointed to prepare a report on the registrationof births, deaths and marriages, since the 1850 committee had failed toreport.Then came Dr. Erial McArthur of Chicago before the House with aresolution to the effect that the time had come when the people of theState of Illinois ought to "regulate by statutory enactment, the qualificationsof those who practice medicine and surgery." Part of Dr. McArthur'sresolution was to the effect that the Society should appoint a special committeeof three members to take this matter under advisement and reportat the next annual meeting a bill for the purpose of regulating the practiceof medicine and surgery in the state. Then, if this bill were approved by theSociety, it should be recommended to the consideration of the people representedin the General Assembly at the next meeting of the Legislature.