A brief review of the life of Thomas Percival and the creative background of Medical Ethics
10.12026/j.issn.1001-8565.2026.03.15
- VernacularTitle:托马斯·帕茨瓦尔生平及《医学伦理学》创作背景简考
- Author:
Jing CHEN
1
;
Xiaoyang GU
1
Author Information
1. School of Medical Humanities， Capital Medical University， Beijing 100069， China
- Publication Type:Journal Article
- Keywords:
Thomas Percival;
medical ethics;
history of medicine
- From:
Chinese Medical Ethics
2026;39(3):384-390
- CountryChina
- Language:Chinese
-
Abstract:
Thomas Percival published the first edition of Medical Ethics in 1803 and is often regarded as the founder of modern medical ethics. After settling in Manchester in 1767， he established a reputation locally through his outstanding medical research and clinical work， contributions to public health affairs， and influence of his ethical works. In 1788， when a dispute arose among the medical staff at the Manchester Infirmary， Percival， as the hospital’s extraordinary physician and a highly respected figure in the region’s medical community， was commissioned to draft a code of conduct for medical staff. Taking this opportunity， he completed and published the book named Medical Ethics， which subsequently exerted a profound impact on the professional norms of physicians in the United Kingdom and the United States.
