Sources Guide list

Sources Guide: Medical Ethics: Professional relations

NB There are a number of medieval and early modern manuscripts which deal with ethics in the more general sense, rather than the specifically medical/biomedical.
For reference to other ethical issues see Sources Guide Medical Ethics: Various issues.

Further information about the materials mentioned below can be found on the Archives and Manuscripts Online Catalogue

In some cases the full detailed catalogues of archive collections are not yet in this online database: hard copy versions are available in the Rare Materials Room of the Library and on request to archs+mss@wellcome.ac.uk

BRITISH MEDICAL ASSOCIATION: 'Groups' files in CMAC include papers of the 'Ethics' Group, 1910s-1960s: diverse issues relating to ethical code and ethical rules, questions of correct professional conduct, including advertising, libel, professional disputes, posts offered at pay and conditions unacceptable to the BMA, professional secrecy, unprofessional conduct, relations between medical practitioners (e.g. partnerships, dichotomy), qualifications, expulsion of members, unqualified practice, queries etc, 1900s-1960s SA/BMA

CANCER RESEARCH CAMPAIGN (f.1923 as the BRITISH EMPIRE CANCER CAMPAIGN, renamed 1970): Material relating to unorthodox cancer 'cures' and 'quack' practitioners, 1923-81 SA/CRC

MEDICAL WOMEN'S FEDERATION (f. 1917): Material on professional ethics from the point of view of the woman doctor, representation of women on General Medical Council, etc, 1920s-80s SA/MWF

PATIENTS’ ASSOCIATION: Important evidence concerning the doctor-patient relationship in General Practice, Hospitals, Dental and other health services, 1970s–90s: sections C, D, E in particular. Also material relating to the medical profession’s relationship with the pharmaceutical industry SA/PAT

Frederick William AXHAM (1840-1926): Axham was struck off the Medical Register in 1911 for acting as anaesthetist to an unqualified medical practitioner, the manipulative surgeon or bone-setter Herbert Barker (later knighted). Collection of material relating to his striking-off and reinstatement, 1911-26 MS.7845

Anne DALLY (b. 1926): Material relating to her difficulties with the General Medical Council, 1960s-90s PP/DAL

Grantly DICK READ (1890-1959): Papers include material relating to disputes within a joint practice in Woking of which Dick Read was a partner, including a General Medical Council complaint, 1920s-30s, and records of Dick Read's dispute with the South African Medical Council about his eligibility to practise there, 1948-53, also correspondence with GMC and Medical Defence Union, and on other legal matters PP/GDR

Charles Montague FLETCHER (1911-1995): files relating to his association with the Institute of Medical Ethics and Society of Medical Ethics, 1980s-90s PP/CMF/F-G

Alfred Jean FOURNIER (1832-1914): two manuscripts, in French, concerning ethical problems in cases of syphilis, 1890-1 MSS. 2423-4

C. P. GAULTIER: Collection of notes and articles on medical subjects includes (in French) one on the rights and duties of the doctor, 1840 MS.2465

Sir George GODBER GCB (b.1908): Lectures, articles, cartoons etc. concerning medical ethics, 1960s-90s GC/201

Hugh JOLLY (1918-1986): Well-known 'media doctor': some material on medical ethics and broadcasting, 1960s-80s GC/143

Sir William Arbuthnot LANE (1856-1943): This controversial surgeon had his name removed from the Medical Register, in order to promote the New Health Society he had founded to publicise his views on healthy diet and life, without being disciplined by the General Medical Council GC/127

Charles McMoran Wilson, Lord MORAN (1882-1977): Lord Moran, a distinguished medical man and President of the Royal College of Physicians, 1941-50, published Winston Churchill: Struggle for Survival in 1966, based on knowledge gained as Churchill's doctor. This raised serious ethical issues and led to a dispute with the BMA; see section J; some files closed for 60 years PP/CMW

Alastair Morrison NELSON (1924-1993): His papers include records of the 'Human Values in Healthcare Group', 1990s, as well as his own writings on ethics and public health, 1970s-80s GC/157

POLITICS OF HEALTH GROUP: Small group of papers of informal group examining the relationship between the causes of health and ill-health and the unequal distribution of resources and power in society, 1980s SA/PHG

SIGERIST SOCIETY: Incomplete proceedings of meetings of group of left-wing doctors to discuss medicine in society and wider philosophical issues, 1947-55 SA/SIG

Sir Arthur SUMMERFIELD: a little material relating to disclosure of information by psychologists, 1957–8 PSY/SUM