Primum Non Nocere
Primum Non Nocere is latin for first do no harm. This principal is part of an oath that every doctor takes upon graduating and naturopathic doctors are no different. It is essential in the care for patients that doctors keep this in mind. With any medicine there is a risk verses reward that needs to be evaluated and taken into account. This is true for natural medicines and therapies too.
Another way to look at the issue is; given the problem or health concern, is an intervention likely to make the situation better. It is a fundamental question that many have to face as a loved one nears the end of their life. It plays a role in everyday medicine too, however. Many people believe when they are sick they need an antibiotic. They believe because it is a medicine it will help them get better quicker. Many doctors fall into the trap of appeasing their patients and writing the scrip for it even though the infection or sickness is likely viral in nature. If it is viral, the antibiotic is doing more harm than good. Letting the body take care of itself with its inherent ability to do so will yield more benefit. Inthis case doing nothing is better than giving medicine.
Primum No nocere is a common practice in naturopathic medicine in diagnostics and treatment.
Another way to look at the issue is; given the problem or health concern, is an intervention likely to make the situation better. It is a fundamental question that many have to face as a loved one nears the end of their life. It plays a role in everyday medicine too, however. Many people believe when they are sick they need an antibiotic. They believe because it is a medicine it will help them get better quicker. Many doctors fall into the trap of appeasing their patients and writing the scrip for it even though the infection or sickness is likely viral in nature. If it is viral, the antibiotic is doing more harm than good. Letting the body take care of itself with its inherent ability to do so will yield more benefit. Inthis case doing nothing is better than giving medicine.
Primum No nocere is a common practice in naturopathic medicine in diagnostics and treatment.