Medicus amicus: professional ethics in the ancient world

ABSTRACT Celso, proem. 73: cum par scientia it, utiliorem tamen medicum esse amicum quam extraneum, proposes an innovative interpretation of the work of the medicus. It is the figure of the medicus gratiosus, kind, pleasant, courteous, but also authoritative and influential to this, with virtues such as reliability and mercy, uninterested in money, worried about his patient and always present at critical moments. In ancient Roman medicine there is the concept of medicus amicus, peculiarity clearly emerges in Seneca the Younger’s work and it refers to a specific aspect of the medical practice, especially during the first imperial era. Seneca the Elder, analysing the work of a physician, refers a event about the difficult relationship between father, son and stepmother, because the son doctor can not cure the stepmother. There are two versions of this event. In fact Luciano di Samostata and Seneca the Elder describe this strong controversy between father and son, but Luciano refers to the more “technical” side of greek medicine, Seneca regards the specific aspects of medicus amicus. The figure of the medicus amicus describes a relationship of friendship and sympathy between the physician and the patient, highlighting the moral aspect of ancient medicine as the most important.