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Hippocratic Oaths: Medicine and its Discontents
In this book, the physician and philosopher Raymond Tallis yokes together his diverse intellectual interests to address important questions about our well-being. In a series of stimulating and impassioned arguments, he establishes the truth about, among many other things, recent health scares, explains why patients compete for our doctors' and nurses' time; why the exploding popularity of alternative therapies is actually bad for our health; and how one man's view of the MMR vaccine influenced a nation. This is the summation of a lifetime's thought and medical practice, by one of Britain's most original thinkers. It will, quite simply, change for ever the way we think about ourselves and our health.
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First published August 5, 2004
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About the author
Raymond Tallis
61 books81 followersProfessor Raymond Tallis is a philosopher, poet, novelist and cultural critic and was until recently a physician and clinical scientist. In the Economist's Intelligent Life Magazine (Autumn 2009) he was listed as one of the top living polymaths in the world.
Born in Liverpool in 1946, one of five children, he trained as a doctor at Oxford University and at St Thomas' in London before going on to become Professor of Geriatric Medicine at the University of Manchester and a consultant physician in Health Care of the Elderly in Salford. Professor Tallis retired from medicine in 2006 to become a full-time writer, though he remained Visiting Professor at St George's Hospital Medical School, University of London until 2008.
Prior to his retirement from medicine to devote himself to writing, Raymond Tallis had responsibility for acute and rehabilitation patients and took part in the on-call rota for acute medical emergencies. He also ran a unique specialist epilepsy service for older people. Amongst his 200 or so medical publications are two major textbooks - The Clinical Neurology of Old Age (Wiley, 1988) and the comprehensive Brocklehurst's Textbook of Geriatric Medicine and Gerontology (Harcourt Brace, co-edited with Howard Fillitt, 6th edition, 2003). Most of his research publications were in the field of neurology of old age and neurological rehabilitation. He has published original articles in Nature Medicine, Lancet and other leading journals. Two of his papers were the subject of leading articles in Lancet. In 2000 Raymond Tallis was elected Fellow of the Academy of Medical Sciences in recognition of his contribution to medical research; in 2002 he was awarded the Dhole Eddlestone Prize for his contribution to the medical literature on elderly people; and in 2006 he received the Founders Medal of the British Geriatrics Society. In July 2007, he received the Lord Cohen Gold Medal for Research into Ageing, and in November 2011 he was honoured with the International League Against Epilepsy's Special Excellence in Epilepsy Award. He is a Patron of Dignity in Dying.
Over the last 20 years Raymond Tallis has published fiction, three volumes of poetry, and 23 books on the philosophy of mind, philosophical anthropology, literary theory, the nature of art and cultural criticism. Together with over two hundred articles in Prospect, Times Literary Supplement and many other outlets, these books offer a critique of current predominant intellectual trends and an alternative understanding of human consciousness, the nature of language and of what it is to be a human being. For this work, Professor Tallis has been awarded three honorary degrees: DLitt (Hon. Causa) from the University of Hull in 1997; LittD (Hon. Causa) at the University of Manchester 2002 and Doc (Med) SC, St George's Hospital 2015. He was Visiting Professor of English at the University of Liverpool until 2013.
Raymond Tallis makes regular appearances at Hay, Cheltenham, Edinburgh and other book festivals, and lectures widely.
Raymond Tallis's national roles have included: Consultant Advisor in Health Care of the Elderly to the Chief Medical Officer; a key part in developing National Service Framework for Older People, in particular the recommendations of developing services for people with strokes; membership of the National Institute for Clinical Excellence Appraisal Committee; Chairmanship of the Royal College of Physicians Committee on Ethics in Medicine; Chairman of the committee reviewing ethics support for front-line clinicians; and membership of the Working Party producing a seminal report Doctors in Society, Medical Professionalism in a Changing World (2005). From July 2011 to October 2014 he was the elected Chair, Healthcare Professionals for Assisted Dying (HPAD).
In 2012 he was a member of the judges' panel for the Samuel Johnson Prize.
In 2015 he judged the Notting Hill Essay prize.
Born in Liverpool in 1946, one of five children, he trained as a doctor at Oxford University and at St Thomas' in London before going on to become Professor of Geriatric Medicine at the University of Manchester and a consultant physician in Health Care of the Elderly in Salford. Professor Tallis retired from medicine in 2006 to become a full-time writer, though he remained Visiting Professor at St George's Hospital Medical School, University of London until 2008.
Prior to his retirement from medicine to devote himself to writing, Raymond Tallis had responsibility for acute and rehabilitation patients and took part in the on-call rota for acute medical emergencies. He also ran a unique specialist epilepsy service for older people. Amongst his 200 or so medical publications are two major textbooks - The Clinical Neurology of Old Age (Wiley, 1988) and the comprehensive Brocklehurst's Textbook of Geriatric Medicine and Gerontology (Harcourt Brace, co-edited with Howard Fillitt, 6th edition, 2003). Most of his research publications were in the field of neurology of old age and neurological rehabilitation. He has published original articles in Nature Medicine, Lancet and other leading journals. Two of his papers were the subject of leading articles in Lancet. In 2000 Raymond Tallis was elected Fellow of the Academy of Medical Sciences in recognition of his contribution to medical research; in 2002 he was awarded the Dhole Eddlestone Prize for his contribution to the medical literature on elderly people; and in 2006 he received the Founders Medal of the British Geriatrics Society. In July 2007, he received the Lord Cohen Gold Medal for Research into Ageing, and in November 2011 he was honoured with the International League Against Epilepsy's Special Excellence in Epilepsy Award. He is a Patron of Dignity in Dying.
Over the last 20 years Raymond Tallis has published fiction, three volumes of poetry, and 23 books on the philosophy of mind, philosophical anthropology, literary theory, the nature of art and cultural criticism. Together with over two hundred articles in Prospect, Times Literary Supplement and many other outlets, these books offer a critique of current predominant intellectual trends and an alternative understanding of human consciousness, the nature of language and of what it is to be a human being. For this work, Professor Tallis has been awarded three honorary degrees: DLitt (Hon. Causa) from the University of Hull in 1997; LittD (Hon. Causa) at the University of Manchester 2002 and Doc (Med) SC, St George's Hospital 2015. He was Visiting Professor of English at the University of Liverpool until 2013.
Raymond Tallis makes regular appearances at Hay, Cheltenham, Edinburgh and other book festivals, and lectures widely.
Raymond Tallis's national roles have included: Consultant Advisor in Health Care of the Elderly to the Chief Medical Officer; a key part in developing National Service Framework for Older People, in particular the recommendations of developing services for people with strokes; membership of the National Institute for Clinical Excellence Appraisal Committee; Chairmanship of the Royal College of Physicians Committee on Ethics in Medicine; Chairman of the committee reviewing ethics support for front-line clinicians; and membership of the Working Party producing a seminal report Doctors in Society, Medical Professionalism in a Changing World (2005). From July 2011 to October 2014 he was the elected Chair, Healthcare Professionals for Assisted Dying (HPAD).
In 2012 he was a member of the judges' panel for the Samuel Johnson Prize.
In 2015 he judged the Notting Hill Essay prize.
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Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
April 2, 2023
Here's a far-ranging book, tackling a whole array of different issues pertaining to our health and our health care system (in Britain). It reads, in fact, like a collection of essays. Having said that, no matter how diverse the topics there is, nevertheless, a core narrative: the denouncing of the medical profession being under attack from two different fronts -a cultural one first, and a political one then.
Medicine, of course, is based on medical sciences and the scientific method. In our post-truth era plagued by relativism, anti-intellectualism, a defiance of everything 'established' (including scientific facts) and a widespread ignorance of how science actually works, it's only expected, then, than the medical world and its tenets have been suffering as collateral damage of such cultural zeitgeist. The author, here of course, denounces the fad surrounding 'alternative medicine' (which are everything but 'medicine'), but not only. He also addresses some of the most obnoxious media scare that we have witnessed, for instance that concerning the MMR vaccine supposedly causing autism (it doesn't). The dedicated arguments to such debunking are highly relevant, not only for reaffirming what science is and how it works, but, also, remind us that in matter of scientific issues the last institution we should ever trust are the mass medias indeed. It's punchy, but right on point.
When it comes to politics, the nefarious impact of recent policies have been no less damaging. For instance, there's been a great deal of talk these past few decades about 'empowering' patients. What Raymond Tallis shows, though, is that such talks are mostly bogus, and that the policies that came in their trail have been more detrimental than helpful. First, of course, they rely on the dubious claim that patients were not empowered in the first place. The view is questionable: if curing an illness or successfully treating someone (save lives) was/is not empowering by itself, then what is?! Then, and far more concerning, is the fact that patients, no matter how informed, are no medical experts; and so, having flipped the whole health care system into yet another market for pick-and-chose, where patients are now all-powerful 'consumers', has not only undermined the trust doctors ought to benefit in the first place, but has contributed to a culture where 'do no harm' has been replaced by (as the author puts it) 'cover your ass'. This is when doctors would rather prescribe something (anything!) even when medication is not needed, or, submit patients to a whole set of useless tests 'just to be on the safe side' (read: not being accused of not doing their job and potentially be sued).
You get it, here's a more than needed book, addressing some of the most pressing ethical questions faced by the medical profession and the system in which it operates. As I already said, there is more to it than that, though. For instance, the author also takes the time to debunk a few false assumptions (e.g. that ageing is a drain on the system because 'elderlies are mostly sick'), while not sparring his frustration at the appalling financing and management of the NHS (from both the Conservative and the New Labour).
If you're interested in health and the health care system, then this thought provoking read is absolutely necessary.
Medicine, of course, is based on medical sciences and the scientific method. In our post-truth era plagued by relativism, anti-intellectualism, a defiance of everything 'established' (including scientific facts) and a widespread ignorance of how science actually works, it's only expected, then, than the medical world and its tenets have been suffering as collateral damage of such cultural zeitgeist. The author, here of course, denounces the fad surrounding 'alternative medicine' (which are everything but 'medicine'), but not only. He also addresses some of the most obnoxious media scare that we have witnessed, for instance that concerning the MMR vaccine supposedly causing autism (it doesn't). The dedicated arguments to such debunking are highly relevant, not only for reaffirming what science is and how it works, but, also, remind us that in matter of scientific issues the last institution we should ever trust are the mass medias indeed. It's punchy, but right on point.
When it comes to politics, the nefarious impact of recent policies have been no less damaging. For instance, there's been a great deal of talk these past few decades about 'empowering' patients. What Raymond Tallis shows, though, is that such talks are mostly bogus, and that the policies that came in their trail have been more detrimental than helpful. First, of course, they rely on the dubious claim that patients were not empowered in the first place. The view is questionable: if curing an illness or successfully treating someone (save lives) was/is not empowering by itself, then what is?! Then, and far more concerning, is the fact that patients, no matter how informed, are no medical experts; and so, having flipped the whole health care system into yet another market for pick-and-chose, where patients are now all-powerful 'consumers', has not only undermined the trust doctors ought to benefit in the first place, but has contributed to a culture where 'do no harm' has been replaced by (as the author puts it) 'cover your ass'. This is when doctors would rather prescribe something (anything!) even when medication is not needed, or, submit patients to a whole set of useless tests 'just to be on the safe side' (read: not being accused of not doing their job and potentially be sued).
You get it, here's a more than needed book, addressing some of the most pressing ethical questions faced by the medical profession and the system in which it operates. As I already said, there is more to it than that, though. For instance, the author also takes the time to debunk a few false assumptions (e.g. that ageing is a drain on the system because 'elderlies are mostly sick'), while not sparring his frustration at the appalling financing and management of the NHS (from both the Conservative and the New Labour).
If you're interested in health and the health care system, then this thought provoking read is absolutely necessary.
August 1, 2024
I really enjoyed it overall. Tallis’ description of governmental interference into medicine was a bit dense at times but I loved the insights into the massive responsibility of a physician and the goal of medicine: to postpone death and shorten suffering. Everyone has to die but medicine can make human death less inhumane.
September 3, 2014
a good view on the values and meanings of doctors and medical care ethics, duty etc and A postulation to the future of healthcare in the uk and more~ ^^
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews