From plague and tuberculosis to AIDS: a reflection on the medical profession

Abstract

Physicians have frequently been exposed to personal risk during the course of medical practice. This risk has been most obvious during the great communicable disease epidemics occurring in the past and is, of course, present also when medical care is provided during wartime. Recent public pronouncements of some physicians regarding their ethical responsibility in the care of patients with communicable diseases, particularly acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS), have raised questions in the public mind as to the responsibilities of the medical profession. We reviewed the history of medicine to examine the traditional responsibilities of physicians in similar circumstances. Examples from our historical tradition should be of value to each physician and to society in determining the appropriate responsibilities of present-day physicians.