Venue change for Purple Coat Club

The PCC meeting tomorrow night will now take place in R1 on the Imperial College Charing Cross campus, at 7.30.

Interested in Surgery?

There is a Minimally Invasive Surgery Evening on Thursday 3rd November in the Reynolds (Drewe Lecture Theatre).
Barry Paraskeva and Raj Agarwal will be there from Prof Darzi's team at Mary's as well as Alun Davies (Surgeon at CX) and Prof Bailey (President of the Association of Laparoscopic Surgeons) all talking about the future of minimally invasive surgery and what kind of things we can already do.
Should be an interesting evening.
Starts at 6pm and free drinks and nibbles will be provided after the meeting courtesy of the MPS

For more info contact shobit.arya@gmail.com

The Old Hippocratic Oath - 425 BC

This is from Oxford Handbook of Clinical Medicine:

I swear by Apollo the physician, and Aesculapius and Health and All-heal, and all the gods and goddesses, that, according to my ability and judgment, I will keep this oath and stipulation - to reckon him who taught me this Art equally dear to me as my parents, to share my substance with him, and relieve his necessities if required; to look upon his offspring in the same footing as my own brothers, and to teach them this Art, if they shall wish to learn it, without fee or stipulation, and that by percept, lecture, and every other mode of instruction, I will impart a knowledge of the Art to my own sons, and those of my teachers, and to disciples bound by stipulation and oath according to the law of medicine, but to none other.

I will follow that system of regimen, which, according to my ability and judgment, I consider for the benefit of my patients, and abstain from whatever is deleterious and mischievous.

I will give no deadly medicine to anyone if asked, nor suggest any such counsel; and in like manner I will not give to a woman a pessary to produce abortion. With purity and holiness I will pass my life and practice my Art.

I will not cut persons labouring under the stone, but will leave this to be done by men who are practitioners of the work. Into whatever houses I enter, I will go into them for the benefit of the sick, and will abstain from every act of mischief and corruption; and, further, from the seduction of females, or males, of freeman or slaves.

Whatever, in connection with my professional practice, not in connection with it, I see or hear, in the life of men, which ought not to be spoken of abroad, I will not divulge, as reckoning that all such shall be kept secret.

While I continue to keep this Oath unviolated, may it be granted to me to enjoy life and the practice of the Art, respected by all men, in all times. But should I trespass and violate this Oath, may the reverse be my lot.

Declaration of a Doctor

Read by all new doctors at the graduation yesterday:

Now, as a new doctor, I solemnly promise that I will to the best of my ability serve humanity; caring for the sick, preventing disease, promoting good health, and alleviating pain and suffering.

I recognise that the practice of medicine is a privelege with which comes considerable responsibility and I will not abuse my position.

I will practice medicine with integrity, humanity, honesty and compassion; working with my fellow doctors and other colleagues to meet the needs of my patients.

I shall never intentionally do or administer anything to the overall harm of my patients.

I will not permit considerations of gender, race, religion, politial affiliation, sexual orientation, nationality, or social standing to influence my duty of care.

I will oppose policies in breach of human rights and will not participate in them. I will strive to change laws that are contrary to my profession's ethics and will work towards a fairer distribution of health resources.

I will assist my patients to make informed decisions that coincide with their own values and beliefs and will uphold patient confidentiality.

I will recognise the limits of my knowledge and seek to maintain and increase my understanding and skills throughout my professional life. I will acknowledge and try to remedy my own mistakes and honestly assess and respond to those of others.

I will seek to promote the advancement of medical knowledge through teaching and research.

I make this declaration solemnly, freely and upon my honour.

Diane Arbus: Revelations

Recommended by the lovely Ann-Marie:


Running from 13th October 2005 - 15th January 2006 at the V&A is a retrospective exhibition of '50s photographer Diane Arbus' most important work. Her work has been described as 'contemporary anthropology' and juxtaposes stereotypes in New York in the 19-50s and -60s. A fascinating freakshow?

Clegg Scholarship

The Clegg Scholarship is a paid 8 week experience in Medical Journalism at the BMJ offices in Tavistock Sq, WC1. It can be done as part of an elective and you have the opportunity to earn £1200, a great help toward student debt!

Students ought to have previous writing experience but can apply at any stage of their medical career...

It's good to chat

Further support for the 'interactive' model of communication in medicine reported on the BBC website today: a study has shown that patients benefited in a variety of ways from using websites that provide peer support in the form of chat rooms or discussion boards. Those that aim to be purely informative were less helpful.