For several years I have use the quote attributed to Osler –
The good physician treats the disease; the great physician treats the patient who has the disease
A colleague asked from where the quote came. I have searched but cannot find an original source.
Hippocrates has a similar quote:
It's far more important to know what person the disease has than what disease the person has.
So I challenge my readers, does anyone know? Is the Osler quote just a restatement of the original Hippocratic quote?
The sentiment is obvious and I believe true. But who should receive the attribution?
{ 2 comments… read them below or add one }
Think the Osler quote was that one should "care more particularly for the individual patient, than for the special features of the disease"
While I am not eligible for the Medrants Grand Prize for quote attribution, I was reminded of Frances Peabody's famous statement:
"One of the essential qualities of the physician is
interest in humanity, for the secret of the care of the patient is in caring
for the patient."