Episode 68: Modern Applications of Medical Ethics

In this episode Jonathan Chang and Jason Robertson discuss three sources of medical ethics and reflect on how they can inform the modern clinic. Drawing first from a phrase attributed to the Tang dynasty physician Sun Simiao ( 孫思邈, 581-682 CE) then considering scrolls Dr. Wang had painted for his office walls and finally going back to concepts attributed to the mythical Warring States period physician Bian Que (扁鵲, 407-310 BC?), the conversation reveals that some clinical dilemmas are ageless.  Who to treat, what attitude to have and where to draw the line with difficult patients are all concepts that have confronted physicians in every era. For those interested in the original Chinese phrases, see below:

孙思邈 - Sun Simiao  (from 備急千金要方)

大醫精誠

王居易- Wang Juyi (a traditional quote he kept on his clinic wall)

天不言高而自尊，

地不言厚而自重。

扁鵲- Bian Que  (from 史記·扁鵲倉公列傳)

    1-  驕恣不論於理  
    2- 輕身重財
    3- 衣食不能適 
    4- 陰陽并藏氣不定 
    5- 形羸不能服藥 
    6- 信巫不信醫

Music by The Strayun: Clancy of the Overflow. If you're interested in listening to the entire song, please visit:  thestrayun.bandcamp.com/track/clancy-of-the-overflow