Is Sir Astley Cooper's 1823 advice to medical students still relevant?

Abstract

In an 1823 lecture to medical students on the principles and practice of surgery, London surgeon Sir Astley Cooper raised many issues still discussed among doctors today, including: the importance of studying anatomy; factors leading to what would now be called "adverse events"; and the possible legal consequences of making errors. Cooper stressed the need for open communication between doctors and patients. Cooper practised surgery during a period when old medical guild controls were breaking down and before new professional regulatory bodies had developed. Cooper's lecture suggests that the important principles that underpin competent, caring professional practice endure today.