I read two stories the other day, written by Ovid, a Roman writer born in the year after Julius's assassination. Both of the two stories came from the epic, Metamorphoses.
One is Apollo and Daphne. Cupid shoots Apollo with his arrow and makes him fall madly in love with nymph, Daphne. However, it is Diana, standing for virginity and freedom, whom she emulates. When Apollo pursues her, she flees and does not halt-not even when he pleads. And then the young God loses his patience and wastes no time to chase his prey. Daphne is fast but Apollo is faster. Just when he is at her shoulders, she runs to her father, a river God, for help. So the river God turns his lovely daughter into a laurel.
The other story is Io and Jove.(Jove is like Zeus in Greek) Jove catches sight of a beautiful nymph, Io. She is frightened and flees away from him. But powerful Jove stops powerless Io's flight; he rapes chaste Io. Meanwhile, Juno, wife of Jove, is passing by. For fear that jealous Juno may find out his treachery, Jove immediately turns Io into a heifer. What's worse? Juno asks the lovely heifer as a gift. And she has Argus(the hundred-eye giant who never sleeps with all his eyes closed) to be Io's guardian because she still suspects treachery. Io is now a human soul within an animal's body. What a torture! Jove cannot endure his Io's suffering no more and he summons Mercury and instructs him to murder Argus. And so does Mercury killed Argus. But now Juno is full of rage and strikes Io at once. Juno hurts Io and drives the frightened girl across the world-a fugitive. Jove pleads his wife and promises that Io would cause no harm to her again. So with the goddess' rage appeased, Io regains her form she had before. She was as lovely as before, except the whiteness of her flesh. And after all the suffering, poor Io becomes a celebrated goddess, revered by crowds clothed in white linen: Isis.
For me, the two story show the oppression of the powerful on the powerless. The world is never fair.
Monday, April 30, 2007
Hippocrates Oath
Several parts of the Oath have been removed or re-worded over the years invarious countries, schools, and societies but the Oath still remains one ofthe few elements of medicine that have remained unchanged. Most schoolsadminister some form of oath, but the great majority no longer use thisancient version, which praises pagan gods, advocates teaching of men but notwomen, and forbids cutting, abortion, and euthanasia.1 Also missing from theancient Oath and many modern versions are complex, new ethical landmines suchas dealing with HMO's, living wills, whether morning-after pills aretechnically closer to prophylactics or an abortion (they are different fromRU-486), experiments on humans who give informed consent, or geneticresearch. Some doctors prefer to drop all pretenses of swearing an oath orforcing others to do so, since medical boards and courtrooms are the realforces where unethical conduct is judged today. Following is a listing of thespecific promises and a modern perspective:
To support my teacher if necessary. Professional courtesy (not chargingfamilies of physicians for one's services) is perhaps the last trace of thisitem and has largely been abandoned.
To teach medicine to the sons of my teacher. In the past, medical schoolswould give preferential consideration to the children of physicians. This toohas largely disappeared.
To practice and prescribe to the best of my ability for the good of mypatients, and to try to avoid harming them. This beneficial intention is thepurpose of the physician. However, this item is still invoked in discussionsof euthanasia.
To never deliberately do harm to anyone for anyone else's interest. Physicianorganizations in the U.S. and most other countries have strongly denouncedphysician participation in legal executions.
To never attempt to induce an abortion. The wide availability of abortions inmuch of the world suggests that many physicians no longer feel bound by this.
To avoid violating the morals of my community. Many licensing agencies willrevoke a physician's license for offending the morals of the community("moral turpitude").
To avoid attempting to do things that other specialists can do better. The"stones" referred to are kidney stones or bladder stones, removal of whichwas judged too difficult for general practitioners, and therefore was leftfor specialists. It is interesting how early the value of specialization wasrecognized. The range of knowledge and skills needed for the range of humanproblems has always made it impossible for any single physician to maintainexpertise in all areas.
To keep the good of the patient as the highest priority. There may be otherconflicting "good purposes," such as community welfare, conserving economicresources, supporting the criminal justice system, or simply making money forthe physician or his employer that provide recurring challenges to physicians.
To avoid sexual relationships or other inappropriate entanglements withpatients and families. The value of avoiding conflicts of interest has neverbeen questioned.
To keep confidential what I learn about my patients. Confidentialitycontinues to be valued and protected, but governments and third-party payorshave occasionally encroached upon it.
To support my teacher if necessary. Professional courtesy (not chargingfamilies of physicians for one's services) is perhaps the last trace of thisitem and has largely been abandoned.
To teach medicine to the sons of my teacher. In the past, medical schoolswould give preferential consideration to the children of physicians. This toohas largely disappeared.
To practice and prescribe to the best of my ability for the good of mypatients, and to try to avoid harming them. This beneficial intention is thepurpose of the physician. However, this item is still invoked in discussionsof euthanasia.
To never deliberately do harm to anyone for anyone else's interest. Physicianorganizations in the U.S. and most other countries have strongly denouncedphysician participation in legal executions.
To never attempt to induce an abortion. The wide availability of abortions inmuch of the world suggests that many physicians no longer feel bound by this.
To avoid violating the morals of my community. Many licensing agencies willrevoke a physician's license for offending the morals of the community("moral turpitude").
To avoid attempting to do things that other specialists can do better. The"stones" referred to are kidney stones or bladder stones, removal of whichwas judged too difficult for general practitioners, and therefore was leftfor specialists. It is interesting how early the value of specialization wasrecognized. The range of knowledge and skills needed for the range of humanproblems has always made it impossible for any single physician to maintainexpertise in all areas.
To keep the good of the patient as the highest priority. There may be otherconflicting "good purposes," such as community welfare, conserving economicresources, supporting the criminal justice system, or simply making money forthe physician or his employer that provide recurring challenges to physicians.
To avoid sexual relationships or other inappropriate entanglements withpatients and families. The value of avoiding conflicts of interest has neverbeen questioned.
To keep confidential what I learn about my patients. Confidentialitycontinues to be valued and protected, but governments and third-party payorshave occasionally encroached upon it.
Monday, April 16, 2007
English Homework !
Although we are so busy that we don't have much time to do the English homework, I still hope you can try your best to finish it!Homework:
1.Antigone: P3-P5 Antigone V.S. Ismene
P5-P6 Chorus
P6-P10 Creon + Chorus
2.P44 Ancient Greek Medicine
The mentioned-above is just for reading. Please read it and discuss the content in class, or you wouldn't know what teacher is talking about.
After the first Mid-exam, you must notice that the reading comprehension is so easy if you have concentrated on teacher's teaching text.
Don't forget to read the articles!
1.Antigone: P3-P5 Antigone V.S. Ismene
P5-P6 Chorus
P6-P10 Creon + Chorus
2.P44 Ancient Greek Medicine
The mentioned-above is just for reading. Please read it and discuss the content in class, or you wouldn't know what teacher is talking about.
After the first Mid-exam, you must notice that the reading comprehension is so easy if you have concentrated on teacher's teaching text.
Don't forget to read the articles!
Tuesday, April 10, 2007
A Little Message
Starting from this Monday, I send a cell-phone message to a friend of mine each day. This friend may be someone I have not contacted for a long time or anyone that crosses my mind on that day. I have sent three messages to three different people since Monday. The first reply I recieved was from my high school friend. She told me she was surprised to be thought of on such an ordinary day and that we should find some time to meet. I am satisfied with the second reply I got. That friend was thankful for my reminding him how long he has been occupied by all kinds of activities and forgot to slow down and spend time with friends. I never expected a little message to arouse such a reflection upon oneself.However refreshing this idea may seem, it is not easy to take the first step. To decide who to send message to takes time and to decide what is to be written on the message takes even longer time. The work needs to be patiently done, with a true heart. Seeing the friendships that were once mine truning away from me, I somtimes feel a sence of loss and alienation. Therefore, I resolved to keep those friends I cherish by sending them little messages, showing them that I still think of them and care about them no matter how far we are parted. And I know just how happy one would be if he or she gets a meesage from an old fellow some day, and I think that day would be a brighter day.
This is only the begining but I hope it will bring more smiles and cheerful hearts in the world.
This is only the begining but I hope it will bring more smiles and cheerful hearts in the world.
Monday, April 9, 2007
English Announcement !
Teacher have told us the detail of the oral report. And I arrange them in order to make them more clear to see for you.
1.main idea
You must read through the whole article and give us one to two sentences to let us know what the plot is talking about. And you can recite the important parts for us or even add motion to them. It would be great and interesting!
2.Analysis and Comment
You don't have to know the all detail of the article. You just choose 2~3 parts (1 member to 1 part) to analyse the actors' concepts, lofty ideals and the particular expression of the words. After that, you can give us some comment about it. It might be the best region in the oral report.
3.Question for discussion
Try to find a question for us to discuss. You don't have to have the answer, just raise one! And the audience have to write it down, it will be the resource of the second Mid-term Exam.
Tha's all.
1.main idea
You must read through the whole article and give us one to two sentences to let us know what the plot is talking about. And you can recite the important parts for us or even add motion to them. It would be great and interesting!
2.Analysis and Comment
You don't have to know the all detail of the article. You just choose 2~3 parts (1 member to 1 part) to analyse the actors' concepts, lofty ideals and the particular expression of the words. After that, you can give us some comment about it. It might be the best region in the oral report.
3.Question for discussion
Try to find a question for us to discuss. You don't have to have the answer, just raise one! And the audience have to write it down, it will be the resource of the second Mid-term Exam.
Tha's all.
Attention! English Quiz!
Although tomorrow we will have a analysis chemistry test, we still have an English class!
So please bear in mind that preparing the rest part of Shakespeare Sonnets and looking the new vocabularies into dictionary.
Tomorrow we will have six outstanding classmates to read them for us.
Woo! It sounds interesting.
The announcement is over...
So please bear in mind that preparing the rest part of Shakespeare Sonnets and looking the new vocabularies into dictionary.
Tomorrow we will have six outstanding classmates to read them for us.
Woo! It sounds interesting.
The announcement is over...
Our English Mid-term Exam!
<1>Listening 30%
Teacher said that the "blank" which we have to fill in is eazy.
Even the word is just composed about three or four letters.
So don't worry about the article which we have to listen to is a little hard for us.
All we have to do is concentrate on listening to what the blank is.
<2>Synonyms 40% (30->20)
A little difficult! You must have the ability to identify the words' meaning right away!
You may not get the score in these questions.
<3>Reading Comprehention 30% (p32~p41)
The pronoun is the important point in this region.
You have to know what the pronoun like "they" refer to. And the number 23 sonnet is important, too.
If you have concentrated on listening the class, you would find that teacher spent
lots of time to explain what the sonnet means.
Try your best to understand this sonnet, it may account for high proportion in the test!
If you have written down what teacher said and memorize them, don't be afraid of the test.
Teacher said that the "blank" which we have to fill in is eazy.
Even the word is just composed about three or four letters.
So don't worry about the article which we have to listen to is a little hard for us.
All we have to do is concentrate on listening to what the blank is.
<2>Synonyms 40% (30->20)
A little difficult! You must have the ability to identify the words' meaning right away!
You may not get the score in these questions.
<3>Reading Comprehention 30% (p32~p41)
The pronoun is the important point in this region.
You have to know what the pronoun like "they" refer to. And the number 23 sonnet is important, too.
If you have concentrated on listening the class, you would find that teacher spent
lots of time to explain what the sonnet means.
Try your best to understand this sonnet, it may account for high proportion in the test!
If you have written down what teacher said and memorize them, don't be afraid of the test.
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