This is a truthful narrative. It is being duplicated in many instances owing to the ignorance and incapacity of men who, while possessing diplomas, are really unfitted for the practice of medicine. It illustrates in a sad, but forceful way, the necessity of being “up to date,” and mixing common sense with the medical lore acquired in the schools.
“Costly thy habit as thy purse can buy,” should be the rule. A physician should never dress flashily, but he should be garbed well. It creates a good impression. The time and money expended on improving the personal appearance is well invested. Patronize a competent tailor. A portly, well-conditioned man, well clothed, and of sunny, cheerful ways, will work wonders in the practice of medicine. Impressions are created largely by appearances. The man who looks affluent, who conducts himself in a good-natured, dignified manner, will succeed even though he be lacking in a thorough knowledge of his profession. The man who is slouchy and ill-kempt, and who takes no pains to be pleasant and obliging, will fail, no matter how well grounded he may be in the science of medicine. Why? Because he will repel people instead of attracting them. This same rule holds good in all lines of business, but it is specially applicable to the practice of medicine.
CHAPTER III
THE BUGBEAR OF ETHICS
One of the first spooks with which the young practitioner will be confronted is the bugbear of Ethics—don’t overlook the big E. It will be in front of him on graduation day, his preceptor will dangle it before his eyes as he hands him his papers, and it will be continually bobbing up after he has hung out his shingle.
Now ethics in its place is a good thing. It is especially essential in the medical profession in which, without a due regard for the proprieties, many men would be tempted to go astray. And this temptation is by no means slight at times. But there is such a thing as overdoing the ethical proposition. It becomes monotonously annoying for a man to have his every movement watched and judged from the ethical standpoint by a lot of self-constituted censors. The average physician, in his bearing toward his younger brother does not ask himself the old question, “Am I my brother’s keeper?” Not at all. On the contrary the worst of it is he assumes an opposite attitude and by his actions asserts “I am my brother’s keeper.”
In a way these men assume the right to dog and spy upon the movements of other physicians on the plea that they are doing it for the benefit of the profession—to see that the great Code of Ethics is not violated. What they are really after, nine times out of ten, is to make sure that the young, progressive practitioner who has the tact and ability to build up a good-paying practice does not encroach upon their preserves. This is bad enough, but there is a worse side. In nearly every instance those who howl the loudest about violations of the code, are gross offenders themselves. This is a bold assertion, but the proof will be furnished later on.
One of the things specially cited as an unpardonable violation of ethics is the courting of newspaper and similar publicity.
“My dear boy,” one of these old-time offenders will say, “you must not allow your name to appear so frequently in print. It is undignified and unethical. Our profession is one of mighty dignity and responsibility, and you owe it to yourself and your brother physicians to avoid anything which tends to lower or debase it. I know it is only human to seek notoriety of this kind, and that it is valuable so far as the mere getting of money goes, but we must be actuated by higher, nobler motives.”
It is practically a certainty—with rare exception—that the man who gives this advice, is bending every energy, and using every possible means to secure the same kind of publicity. He knows that fame and wealth come from keeping one’s name constantly before the public.