Question V: Concerning Physicians and Pharmacists

I. Reason for the question. - There is a special reason for raising a question concerning physicians and pharmacists, since public health depends much upon their manner of acting.¹

¹ On these matters St. Alphonsus, Praxis Conf., nn. 57-58; Aertnijs, Th. P., n. 46; Lehmkuhl in the new edition of Reuter, Neo-conf., n. 167, a, III; Salsmans, Geneeskundige Plichtenleer.

II. Physicians sin against the obligations of their state:

1. If they are not sufficiently versed in the science and practice of their art, or in more difficult cases do not apply study or do not seek more learned persons.

2. If in curing diseases they do not employ due diligence.

3. If they apply a dangerous remedy to a sick person, unless in a desperate case, a safer remedy being lacking.

4. If they employ illicit means, for example directly procuring abortion, or embryotomy, or sterilization, or if they suggest those things which contradict good morals, or use morphine or narcotics in a harmful quantity.

5. If they perform useless surgical operations, or dangerous ones without a proportionately grave reason.

6. If in a difficult birth, or when danger exists, they do not confer or procure Baptism for a fetus, whether mature or immature, not certainly dead, or if they do not know the right manner of baptizing such fetuses.

7. If, when danger of death exists, they do not take care to warn the sick person in due time, so that he may consult his eternal salvation.

8. If without just cause, or from human respect, they pronounce permission to eat meat or to omit Mass.

9. If they neglect the care of the poor, especially in grave necessity.

10. If they exact an immoderate fee, or also multiply visits uselessly, unless this contributes to the consolation of the sick person and is pleasing to him.

More concerning these matters is declared more fully in chapter 2, section B, q. 1.²

² The Summa Theol. Moralis, II, nn. 376-379, can also be seen.

III. Pharmacists can be questioned, among other things:

1. Whether they have supplied remedies to pregnant women for procuring abortion.

2. Whether they have sold one medicine for another and at a price dearer than it is worth.

3. Whether they have prepared or sold unsuitable remedies.

4. Whether they have sold contraceptive remedies or instruments.

5. Whether they have handed over narcotics or other harmful things, unless to those for whom a physician had prescribed them, or whom they know by certain knowledge will not abuse them.

These things hold concerning those who in their own name furnish or sell remedies; but if in this they are serving others, merely material cooperation could be lawful on account of a very grave proportionate reason, at least until they have opportunely sought another service for themselves.