Medical ethics

Long-established medical ethics

Chinese ancestors placed paramount emphasis on moral integrity in medicine. Perhaps the earliest example is that of Shennong, founder of traditional Chinese medicine, who lived around 5,000 years ago. In the process of selecting medicinal herbs he collected and tasted large quantities of plants. At most he tasted 70 species of herbs in one day, and finally died after tasting a poisonous plant. His spirit of self-sacrifice became the foundation of the fine TCM tradition, setting a standard for all future TCM practitioners.

Equality and universal love

Since ancient times, TCM practitioners have advocated serving the common people and benefiting humankind. A TCM practitioner treats each patient as he or she would a family member, regardless of social status, race, or education, in the spirit of universal love. Sun Simiao (581-208), Hua Tuo (145-208) and certain other famous TCM doctors of different dynasties declined to work as imperial physicians, preferring instead to serve the broad masses of people.

Self-cultivation in ideology

Self-cultivation is the main course of study for TCM practitioners. Its purpose is to instill in doctors such values as indifference to fame and wealth, self-restraint and austerity. Maintaining a lucid mindset is essential for TCM practitioners to make profound attainments in both practice and theory.

Academically punctilious

The Yellow Emperors Canon of Internal Medicine, published more than 2,000 years ago, advocates punctiliousness in clinical practice and theory. It requires TCM practitioners to be rigorous in diagnosis, differentiation, medication, acupuncture, and academic research.

Inherit fine traditions

TCM lays great store on inheriting fine traditions. Carrying forward medical ethics has for millennia been the main priority when selecting and teaching disciples. The great achievements of TCM are what make it outstanding throughout the world.

Compassion in medical practice

Medical ethics are rooted in the Taoist and Confucian cultures, which expect TCM practitioners to be compassionate and proactively involved in their community. Chinese history shows that at times of pestilence, there have always been TCM practitioners on hand to donate their wealth and mobilize their family members in efforts to treat and save patients.