Many people consider the ancient Greek physician Hippocrates to be the founder of Western medicine. His teachings have had a significant influence on medical practice for centuries, and he lived in the fifth century BC.

Hippocrates placed a strong emphasis on the necessity of causing no harm to patients. One of the fundamental ethical precepts in modern healthcare is the principle of non-maleficence, which developed from this concept. It implies that medical practitioners and other health care providers should constantly aim to prevent needless pain or harm to their patients.

During an operation, picture a surgeon holding a scalpel. When used properly, the tool can be immensely beneficial, but if not handled carefully, it can also be very harmful. This is comparable to how Hippocrates perceived the roles and skills of physicians. He thought that although it's vital for doctors to do everything in their power to help patients recover, there are boundaries to what they can accomplish. The morally right thing to do is to stop any more harm from happening if a doctor determines they are unable to treat a patient effectively using traditional methods.

Generations of physicians have carried Hippocrates' teachings forward, and they still influence how medical professionals handle challenging choices. His focus on doing no harm pushes healthcare providers to continuously weigh the advantages and disadvantages of their decisions, guaranteeing that patients receive the safest and most efficient treatment possible.