primum non nocere

Primum non nocere, Primum nihil nocere also (Latin: not hurt first of all, Greek: μὴ βλάπτειν ), is a principle that the Hippocratic tradition is at the heart of their concept of the morally required medical intervention (see also Medical Ethics ).

This ancient motto, according to the physician shall, in its effort to help the individual entrusted to him, above all, be careful not to harm him.

This wisdom has erected around the year 50, the doctor Scribonius Largus at the court of Emperor Tiberius Claudius. In the strict sense, the motto Primum non nocere prohibits the use of any drug, since none - whether natural or artificial origin - is free from side effects. Physicians keep this strict interpretation, however obsolete and not useful. This raises the question of what is ethically valuable: without any treatment to leave his suffering or to be risking possible serious side -effect of treatment the patients. This frees the doctor but not from its obligation to the patient about all possible treatment options, alternatives and educate, so that these weigh the pros and cons and can then decide on the best possible knowledge base. Thus, the patient can give his so-called informed consent to a particular treatment.

• Latin phrase
• Medical Ethics