Ethical Aspects of Ottoman Surgical Practice

Information about the requirements and expectations of medical ethics regarding surgery during the Ottoman period is found in medical manuscripts; while the moral principles based on Islamic Canon Law (Shari'ah) and the oral tradition (the Hadith) observed in surgical operations are found in judges' registers.

This article was first published in the T. Klin J Med Ethics 2000, 8:9-14. We are grateful to Prof. Nil Sari** for allowing publication.

Information and hints about the requirements and expectations of medical ethics regarding surgery during the Ottoman period is found in medical manuscripts and the deed of trusts of hospitals; while the moral principles, based on Islamic Canon Law (Shari’ah) and the oral tradition (the Hadith), observed in surgical operations, that is a reflection of Muslim morality in practice, are found in judges’ registers.

This study is an overview of the subject, based on the main sources, although not a critical approach.

Virtues Required For Surgeons

In the Ottoman period every hospital was expected to be ruled according to its deed of trust, which described the ethical issues expected to be observed by the surgeons to be appointed. As we learn from these sources, the ethical rules to be observed by the surgeon were basically the same for both adult and paediatric patients [1].

Figure 1. Application of the cauterization method to treat a sick man. Serefeddin Sabuncuoglu. Jarrahiyatu’l-Hâniya. Millet Library, Ali Emiri, Tib 79.

For example, the most important three rules to be observed by the surgeons of the hospital founded by Sultan Bayezid II in Edirne (Adrianople) in 1488 were, nonmaleficience (avoiding the causation of harm), punctuality and avoiding negligence. Skilfulness had primary importance for surgical practice. Virtues regarded as essential for the surgeon were earnestness, patience and assiduity [2].

Ethical rules for the surgeons to be appointed to the Suleymaniye Hospital in Istanbul founded by Sultan Suleyman the Magnificent in 1556, are basically about the technical knowledge and skill required. Besides basic medical education, efficiency and skilfulness; the surgeon was responsible for the treatment of at least twenty different kinds of cases, such as treating head injuries and fractures, tumours, hernias, wounds, ulcers, pustules; and bandaging and drainage of abscesses. Although pharmacists were responsible for the preparation of medical compounds, every surgeon was expected to know the methods of preparing drugs necessary for pre and post-operative medical treatment [3].

Figure 2. The office of chief physician (Hekimbasi) of the Ottoman State in the Topkapi Palace Museum, Istanbul, Turkey.

According to the ethical rules for the surgeons to be appointed to the hospital at Uskudar (Scutari), a suburb of Istanbul, founded in 1582 by Nurbânû Sultan, wife of Sultan Selim II, the surgeon should treat his patient tenderly and mercifully; must keep up the standard of his practice; never behave rudely to the patient; should be conscious of his responsibility; and act with due care to every patient [4].

Ethical Advices in Medical Manuscripts for Surgeons

In regularly kept surgical manuscripts we find the special ethical rules given as advice for the initiates and practitioners of surgery. For example, Serefeddin Sabuncuoglu, an eminent Turkish surgeon of Amasya, at Central Anatolia, gives important ethical advice to the practitioner in his famous surgical work Jarrahiyat al-Hâniye, written in Turkish in 1465. This textbook includes theoretical and practical points about general surgery. Sabuncuoglu warns every surgeon to be conscious of the potential risks of extensive bleeding and major infections; and that removal of bladder stones may be dangerous for some patients. Sabuncuglu also warns surgeons not to operate if there is risk for the patient; and writes that, a surgeon should not operate any patient only for self-interest; priority should always be given to the patient’s interests. Before the operation, the patient or his family should be informed of the details and its potential risks [5].

Another Turkish surgical book, Alaim-i Jarrahîn (1500), draws attention to the virtues and skills expected from a surgeon. According to this text, a surgeon should be good humoured; honest and modest; behave respectfully to his masters; be quick and skilful; have enough basic medical knowledge; and should be informed of the methods of preparing ointments, dressings, coatings and cataplasms; must prepare drugs suited for children; and his surgical instruments must be plated gold, silver or at least tin [6].

Hulasa-i Divan, a 17th century manuscript, warns surgeons to be careful of the right diagnosis before deciding for operation [7].

Figure 3. A human body miniature shows internal organs. By Mansur bin Muhammad bin Ahmad, Kitâb-i Tashrih-i Badan-i Insân. Cerrahpasha Medical Faculty Library, 31.

Registers of the Canonical Courts’ Judges

The Islamic juridical and ethical rules to be observed in surgical operations carried out in the Ottoman State can be traced in the registers of the canonical courts’ judges. Legal problems in the Ottoman cities and towns were handled by judges (kadi) of the canonical courts, appointed by the Palace, that is the central government or their substitutes appointed by judges. Judges registered all kinds of processes and decisions, such as judgements, sentences and contracts, in their special registry known with various names, such as “Shar’iya sicili, kadi defteri” etc. From the early years of the Ottoman State, until 1924 when the canonical law courts were closed, the judicial organization continued and hundred thousands of law scripts were recorded. Most of these records have not been preserved and those available, about 20.000 in number have not been systematically studied until recently, however important these documents are. These scripts are of great importance, because they are documents that reflect the daily social life of the people in Ottoman cities and towns. Local medical problems can also be studied from these documents –  epidemics, hospitals (buildings and names of the personnel), the names of the known physicians and surgeons, local names of diseases, cases of forensic medicine, such as abortion, post-mortem examination and examination for virginity and certificates of consent arranged between the patient and his/her physician or surgeon or oculist or midwife [8].

Ethical Principles Based on Islamic Canon Law Observed in Surgical Operations

Muslim Canonical jurisprudence involves law, ethics, good manners and tradition. Reasoning is fundamental in Islamic Law. We must bear in mind that classical Muslim jurisprudence is not the Muslim law itself, but the commentary of the period.

The surgical operation is a risk taken against the worst; that is, a balancing of beneficence against harm and choice of the act expected to be more beneficial. The right to live and the protection of human life and health in Islam is a matter of individual right covering everybody [9]. The patient gives his / her consent for an operation in accordance with his right on the integrity of his body, which is an individual right, but not an absolute one. There is a concept of a divine trust (amanah) to the individual for keeping himself safe. That is, as there is no right of yielding to death in Islam; the obligation to live is prior to the will for death of the individual. The beneficence for the patient is prior to his/her autonomy [10].

Sometimes an illness does away with the individual’s capability of consent; or a patient may be under aged or incompetent. Therefore, for children and those who are not competent, the kadi chose whomever he found appropriate as the guardian. The concept of guardianship originated according to the patriarchal type of family that is father, grandfather, uncle or sons were to be guardian; though we have rare examples in the Ottoman period where the mother was the guardian [11].

Inflicting physical or moral harm (muessir fil, that is, assault and battery) intentionally or deliberately, such as injury and murder are crimes committed against individuals. Islamic law prescribes immunity for life and property [12]. Causing death or injury or permanent disablement of the patient necessitates compensation / blood money, which is required by the victim himself/ herself or if under-aged, by his / her parent or guardian; and if dead, by their heirs. Blood money punishment for the whole body (diyet) or for a wound or partial loss of an organ or limb (ersh), is to ensure the balance of harm against punishment. Blood money is an alternative to retaliation (kisas). That is, in case of harm, while preventing retaliation, it also prevents the sufferer from impoverishment, hence being reduced to begging because of loss of health or disablement; or compensates the heirs for their loss [13].

Consent against Compensation before Medical Intervention

In Islam, all mutual legal and commercial relations have to be based on consent; but, guaranteed cure and recovery in advance is not regarded as acceptable in Islam. Also, the physician cannot be obliged to guarantee the result of the treatment, for the result cannot be known beforehand. Healing is a matter of destiny and it cannot be regarded as the power of anybody. As nothing is absolutely certain, there is a probability of misfortune. Here, destiny is connected with the end, just as the concept of death, which provides for the resistance to bear the results of a misfortune [14].

Figure 4. A human body miniature shows the blood vessels and nerve system. By Mansur bin Muhammad bin Ahmad, Kitâb-i Tashrih-i Badan-i Insân. Cerrahpasha Medical Faculty Library, 31.

The requirement of a written consent was inevitable then, because surgical technology was not developed and the risk of death or disability risk was high; [15] a few kinds of operations were regularly carried out , that is hernia and lithotomy, which were less risky.

A special consent was taken from the patient; or the parent or guardian of the child; or from the judge before treatment or a surgical operation; and a contract was signed to certify this, in order to prevent the patient, his/her relatives or the child’s parent or guardian from starting a suit for compensation against the surgeon in case of death or injury. Consent of a person for a surgical operation in advance means the renunciation of the future right of suing, in case of a harm or dissatisfaction. This certificate (huccet) of consent was arranged in the presence of the judge and witnesses, between the surgeon and patient or his/her parent or guardian. Written and oral consent was not regarded as satisfactory and to guarantee against conflicts about the probable unwelcome results, the agreement was arranged and signed by witnesses in the presence of the judge. To be a legally valid consent though, its content should be clearly known by the patient; but, no sufficient written information about the intervention is given, except in a few examples, and sometimes it is only implicitly expressed in these documents [16].

In this contract, the surgeon’s skill was also usually noted and it was marked that the surgeon was going to operate on the patient skilfully and was to do his best. In some of these contracts the surgeon’s fee and the amounts to be paid before and after the operation, was also noted. In the Ottoman period, there was a wage relationship between the physician and the patient who was a client. That is, medical treatment was considered as a paid service [17].

Then, when was a surgeon regarded as responsible? Surgeons were not considered responsible for the unwelcomed results of their treatment, provided that they observed certain requirements: if a written consent was taken, when there was no unacceptable surgical or medical failure, when the surgical technique practiced was found to be in accordance with the standards of its time, when no ill will was found to be in the practice and when the surgeon was found to be qualified, skilled and efficient enough [18]. When the treatment caused any harm, in order to understand whether the practice was in accordance with the knowledge and technique of the day, an expert (ehl-i hibre), who was another surgeon / physician was called; and if found responsible, all unjustly caused harm was to be compensated. This meant that the consent of the patient removed the physician’s responsibility only for normal situations. If the surgeon treated his patient honestly, with assiduity and used his surgical skill properly, no compensation was to be claimed in case of death or injury, as a result of this consent; but, if the surgeon was found to be negligent, incautious, faulty or unskilful, he had to compensate for the harm caused to the patient; that is, if the harm or death was the result of malpractice, the consent was no longer to be regarded as valid. Non-professionals were regarded as responsible for the harm that they may give to the patient. In Islam, ignoring the harm is not legally right; it exists only from the point of view of destiny [19].

Examples of Ottoman Consent Certificates Related With Paediatric Surgery

There are several examples of these contracts, dating back to the 15th century Ottoman reign [20]. I would like to give two cases of negotiations between two parties in 1765; one between a surgeon and a child’s parents; the other between a midwife and a newborn baby’s parents:

Case I

“Omer and his wife from Sehrekustu, a district in Gaziantep, southeast of Turkiye, accused the son of Mustafa, Molla Mehmet, the surgeon, who lived in the same neighbourhood and claimed: ‘A swelling had developed on our son Mehmed’s back and we took him to the accused surgeon for treatment. The accused incised the swelling and as a result our son died in four days.’

So the plaintiff asked the court to start the necessary process.

The surgeon defended himself saying:

‘The illness known as Duzuncu in our city was on the back of the child. This illness is treated by incising (delving) and then draining the liquid in it, called ma-i cedid. Later, the wound is treated (medically). The method of treatment has been practiced successfully for a long time. I had the plaintiffs consent for incising and treating the swelling.’and he also submitted an opinion on legal matter (fatwa) proving the truth of what he had said in his defence.

The plaintiff said that he did not have their consent. So, the accused was asked to submit his defence.

The witnesses who were heard said that the operation was performed on the plaintiffs consent. They also added that, Molla Mehmed was an efficient surgeon.

The plaintiff’s claims were refused [21].

Case 2

“Mehmed Emin, the son of Mustafa and Hanife, the daughter of Ahmet, who lived at Kucukpazar in Istanbul, who were known to be the father and mother of the infant called Mustafa, mentioned below, came to the Islamic juridical court. Saliha, the daughter of Ali, the accused, a known midwife of Kasimpasa, also being present, the plaintiff stated:

‘Our son Mustafa was born last year after seven months pregnancy, on the 9th of December. Saliha also being present, the infant’s navel cord was cut off as usual and he was named Mustafa. Six days later, Saliha came and cut the navel cord off the infant again with scissors. After having cut and injured, it started to bleed and he died in 24 hours. As we wanted Saliha, the mentioned midwife to be punished, we applied to court and sued her.

She (the midwife) objected and an argument started between us. Our Moslem neighbours tried to mediate between us; and an agreement was made for the accused to pay us 33 piasters (gurush); consequently we were reconciled. Having agreed to be paid the said 33 piasters in certain periods, we admitted to end all suits and claims related with the compensation for the death of Mustafa.’

As she also accepted this negotiation and the agreement being confirmed by the court, it was literally recorded as required. (29 January 1765)

Witnesses: Molla Mustafa, Huseyin Odabasi bin Hasan, Turmus bin Ibrahim, Ali bin Hasan, Debbag el-Hajj Halil [22].

In short, considering the fact that the idea of the need for the consent of the patient in the West began in the 19th century and the notion of patient rights is a newly developing concept [23], the common practice of requiring the written consent of the patient in the Ottoman State is quite significant, as this need had been felt earlier than in the Western World, where medicine had started to progress earlier than the Ottoman World.

REFERENCES

[1] Sari N. “Osmanli Darussifalarina Tayin Edilecek Gorevlilerde Arananacak Nitelikler”. Yeni Tip Tarihi Arastirmalari, No. 1, Istanbul, 1995, pp. 11-54. See. pp. 19, 25.

[2] Ibid, pp. 32-33; Gokbilgin M. T. XV-XVI. Asirlarda Edirne ve Pasa Livasi; Vakiflar-Mulkler-Mukataalar. Istanbul, 1952, I. U. Edebiyat Fakultesi Yayini, No. 508, pp. 150-72.

[3]Sari, N. op. cit., note 1 above, p. 33; Kurkcuoglu K. E. Suleymaniye Vakfiyesi. Ankara 1962, Vakiflar Umum Mudurlugu Nesriyati, pp. 40-1.

[4]Sari, N.: op. cit. note 1 above, p. 33; Vakiflar Genel Mudurlugu, Y.Y.D: 1766 / 136-27ss, sira no. 27, Kasa no. 121.

[5]Akdeniz (Sari) N. Osmanhlarda Hekim ve Deontolojisi. Istanbul, 1977, p. 40. S. Sabuncuoglu: Cerrahiyetu’l Haniyye. Millet Ali Emiri National Library, No. 79, f. 47b-48a.

[6]Akdeniz (Sari) N. ibid, pp. 40-1. Ibrahim b. Abdullah’ul Cerrah: Alaim-i Cerrahin. Cerrahpasa Medical School Medical History Department Library, No. 125, f. 2b-3a.

[7]Akdeniz (Sari) N. Osmanhlarda Hekim ve Deontolojisi. op. cit. note 5 above; Hulasa-i Divan tercumesi. Cerrahpasa Medical School Medical History Department Library, No. 164, p. 2-3

[8]Uzuncarsi I. H.” Ser’i Mahkeme Sicilleri “. Ulku, vol. 5, No. 29, 1935, pp. 365-8. Ulucay M. C. “Manisa Ser’iye Sicillerine Dair Bir Arastirma “. Turkiyat Mecmuasi, vol. 10, 1951-53, pp. 285-98. Bayat A.H. “Seriye Sicilleri ve Tip Tarihimiz.” Turk Dunyasi Arastirmalari, Agustos 1992, No. 79, pp. 9-21.

[9]Akgunduz A. Belgeler Gercekleri Konusuyor (I). Izmir, 1989, Nil Yayinlari, pp. 1-5, 10-3. Udeh A. (trans. Ozcan R. – Safak A.). ” Et-Tesrui’l-Cinaiyyu’l- Islamî Mukarinen Bi’l Kanuni’l- Vaz’i. “Mukayeseli Islam Hukuku ve Beseri Hukuk. (Notlar ilaveli ve Turk Ceza Kanunu ile karsilastirmali). Ankara, 1990, Rehber Yayim 11, Temel Eserler series 1, vol. 2, p. 135.

[10]Udeh A. (trans. Ozcan R. – Safak A.), op. cit. note 9 above, vol. 2, pp. 62, 65-6, 83; vol. 3, pp. 139-40, 224-5. Bilmen O.N. Hukuki islamiyye ve Istilahati Fikhiyye Kamusu. Istanbul, Bilmen Yaymevi, vol. 3, p. 100. Quran: Ali imran 3 / 185; El-Mulk 67 /1-2; El-Ahzab 33 / 36.

[11]Udeh A. (Ozcan R. – Safak A.): op. cit. note 9 above, vol. 2, p. 24. Bilmen N. op. cit. note 10 above, vol. 3, p. 114; vol. 7, pp. 271, 274, 277, 284, 286, 288. Tan M (Editor Onur B.). Toplumsal Tarihte Cocuk Sempozyumu (23-24 Nisan 1993). Istanbul 1994, Tarih Vakfi Yayini, p. 14. Ankara register: No. 40, p. 100 (date. 17 Sewal 1065/22. 06. 1655). Here, the mother, Zeyneb binti Cafer is the guardian.

[12]Udeh A. (Ozcan R. – Safak A.): op. cit. note 9 above, vol. 1, pp. 76-7.

[13]A. Udeh (trans. R. Ozcan – A. Safak): op. cit., note 9 above, vol. 1, pp. 121-122; vol. 2, pp. 242-5. Bilmen O. N. op. cit. note 10 above, vol. 1, pp. 286-7. Safak A. Mezheblerarasi Mukayeseli islam Ceza Hukuku. Ataturk Universitesi Yayinlari, No. 503, Erzurum 1977, p. 130. Quran: En’am 6/164; Fatir 35/18; Necm 53 / 39; Fussilet 41 / 46; Nisa 4 / 123. Bakara 2 /178-179; Maide 5/32. 14.

[14]Quran: Bakara 2 /188; Nisa 4 / 29.

[15]Udeh A. (trans. Ozcan R. – Safak A.), op. cit. note 9 above, vol. 2, p. 124.

[16]Udeh A. (trans. Ozcan R. – Safak A.): op. cit. note 9 above, vol. 2, pp. 19, 23-4, 61-8, 71-79, 83-4, 125, 135, 242-5; vol 3, pp. 101-2, 193-8; vol. 3, pp. 269, 273. For huccet (promissory note) see: Kutukoglu M. S. Osmanli Belgelerinin Dili. Istanbul, 1994, pp. 350-9. Bilmen ON. op. cit. note 10 above, vol. 1, p. 281; for jurisdiction about witnesses see: vol. 8, pp. 123-36; 167-74.

[17]Akgunduz A. Ser’iyye Sicilleri. vol. 1, Turk Dunyasi Arastirmalari, Istanbul, 1988, p. 282.

[18]Udeh A. (trans. Ozcan’ R. – Safak A.): op. cit. note 9 above, vol. 2, pp. 84-5; vol. 3, pp. 101-2, 107, 109, 111; vol. 2, pp. 62, 84, 122-4. Gunenc H. Gunumuz Meselelerinde Fetvalar. Istanbul 1983, ilim Yayinlari, vol. l, p. 138. Bilmen ON. op. cit. note 10 above, vol. 3, pp. 113-4. Bardakoglu A. “Islam Hukukunda Doktor ve Diger Saglik Personelinin Hukuki Mesuliyeti.” Kayseri Universitesi Gevher Nesibe Bilim Haftasi ve Tip Gunleri. 11-13 Mart 1982, Kayseri, pp. 527-30.

[19]H. Gunenc: op. cit., note 18 above, p. 138. Bilmen O. N. op. cit. note 10 above, vol. 3, p. 113; vol. 7, p. 272. Udeh A. (trans. Ozcan R. – Safak A.): op. cit. note 9 above, vol. 2, p. 123.

[20]References for agreements signed before paediatric surgery (examples of consent for the extraction of the bladder stone and the operation of inguinal haernia): Aksu F. “Ispartali Hekim ve Cerrahlar.” Un, vol. 4, No. 37, 1937, p. 527. Baki E. A. ” Afyonda Eski Zamanlarda Yasayis 18: Afyon’un Buyuk Hekimleri “. Taspinar, No. 86, 1941, pp. 26-7. Baki E. A. “Afyonkarahisar’da XVII-XVIII. Asirlarda Mechul Halk Tarihinden” Yeni Mat, Afyon, 1951, pp. 42-3. Gokpinar E. A. ” Seriye Sicillerine Gore: Eski Zamanlarda Afyon’da Yasayis.. ” Taspinar, vol. 4, No. 42, 1936, p. 214. Ozdemir R. XIX. Yuzyilin ilk Yarisinda Ankara. Kultur ve Turizm Bakanligi Yayini, No. 694, Ankara, 1986, p. 294. Examples of unpublished references: Konya register: No. 42, p. 198 (date: 8. Muharrem. 1119/11. 04. 1707); Konya register: No. 26, p. 266 (date: 17. Ramazan 1087/23. 11. 1676); Ankara register: No. 40, p. 100 (date: 17. Sewal. 1065 / 22. 06. 1655).

[21]Guzel C.C.,-Yetkin H. Gaziantep Ser’i Mahkeme Sicillerinden Ornekler (Cilt: 81-141/ Miladî 1729 -1825 ). Gaziantep, 1970, Gaziantep Kultur Dernegi Yayini, No. 55, p. 80; (Gaziantep register, vol. 122, p. 72, 15 Saban 1178 / 8. 02. 1765).

[22]Osmanli Toplum Yasayisiyla ilgili Belgeler -; Bilgiler / Suclar ve Cezalar- III “. Tarih ve Toplum. 1984, No. 9, p. 9 (153); Istanbul Kadi Sicili, vol 25, p. 237, (Istanbul register vol. 25, p. 237; date: 17 Saban 1179 / 29 January 1765).

[23]Faden RR, Beauchamp T. L. A History and Theory of Informed Consent. Oxford, 1986, Oxford University Press, Inc.

FIGURE SOURCES :

Figure (front). Treatment of a stomach illness by a medic from Serefeddin Sabuncuoglu’s book Jarrahiyat al-Hâniye. (Millet Library, Ali Emiri Tip 79).