Medical Ethics

The symposium on medical ethics began with a talk on the history and evolution of ethics by A. T. K. Rau (Department of Paediatrics, M.S. Ramaiah Medical College, Bengaluru) who defined medical ethics as a self-regulatory system based on moral principles that apply values and judgements to the practice of medicine. He also mentioned that the pillars of modern medical ethics rest on autonomy, beneficence, non-malfeasance, justice, dignity, truthfulness and honesty. Commenting upon the evolution of medical ethics during the pre-Hippocratic, Hippocratic and post-Hippocratic era, he revealed that the oath of Charaka was the first ever record of medical ethics as early as in 250 BC, which was followed in other parts of the world as well as in Mesopotamia, the Middle East and ancient Korea. The Hippocratic era saw the origin of the Hippocratic Oath, which shifted the focus from class-based medicine to selfless service of individual patients.