"210 years has passed since the publication of "Medical Ethics" by Thomas Percival, yet essential ethical guidelines remain the same."

Pol Merkur Lekarski. 2014 Feb;36(212):142-4.

[How do first codes of medical ethics inspire contemporary physicians?].

[Article in Polish]

Paprocka-Lipińska A, Basińska K.

Abstract

First codes of medical ethics appeared between 18th and 19th century. Their formation was inspired by changes that happened in medicine, positive in general but with some negative setbacks. Those negative consequences revealed the need to codify all those ethical duties, which were formerly passed from generation to generation by the word of mouth and individual example by master physicians. 210 years has passed since the publication of "Medical Ethics" by Thomas Percival, yet essential ethical guidelines remain the same. Similarly, ethical codes published in Poland in 19 century can still be an inspiration to modem physicians.