I read the BCMD2B article, “Using the beneficence model as an ethical approach to surgical decision making: A case report,” in the December issue of the BCMJ [2020:62;380-383,385 [11]]. Very timely and useful indeed, but I would like to point out that the dictum “first, do no harm,” belongs to Hippocrates, not to Aristotle, as stated in the article.
—Miguel Lipka, MD, CCFP(EM)

The source of this famous dictum isn’t at all clear. A remarkable amount of scholarship exists but none of it is yet conclusive. –ED

This letter was submitted in response to “Using the beneficence model as an ethical approach to surgical decision making: A case report.” [11]