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Podcast: The Podcast by KevinMD
Episode: Is "do no harm" the most misunderstood phrase in medicine?
Description: Psychiatrist Sabooh S. Mubbashar discusses his article, "Why 'do no harm' might be harming modern medicine." He reveals that the principle "First, do no harm," or Primum non nocere, is not part of the original Hippocratic Oath but a later, misattributed addition that has become a dangerously oversimplified slogan. Sabooh argues that a literal interpretation makes medicine impossible, as every intervention, from surgery to medication, technically inflicts harm. This creates a dissonance for clinicians and can paradoxically lead to overly aggressive care, especially at the end of life, where the pressure to "do everything" causes more suffering than benefit...