Question

Explain the evolution of health care from a religious perspective as demonstrated by Hippocrates, Maimonides, Basil, Camillus, and the Crusaders.

Answer 1

Evolution of Healthcare from religious perspective:

Health care is the Prevention, treatment and management of illness or the preservation of mental and physical wellbeing through the services offered by the Medical , nursing and allied health professions . Evolution of Health care refers to the origin and gradual directional change, especially the progress made by the health care sector through thousands of years and through thousands of culture in the different parts of the world . Some of the major contributions were evolution of modern Medicine , invention of Antibiotics, surgeries , anaesthesia etc.

Religious perspective: There are variety of outlook or view to medicine according to the religions in the world. Many proposed different aspects towards Health care.  

Hippocrates : An ancient Greek physician ,lived around 5th century BC . He is considered as the 'father of medicine' . According to him Health care should focus on easing the natural process of healing by keeping the patient clean and sterile, also he gave the importance to immobilization and rest. In his time people believed that the illness are occuring due to the anger of the gods but he told , there is a natural cause for each disease. He even established medical schools and documented numerous diseases. According to Hippocrates and Greek medicine , imbalance in body humors like blood , phlegm, yelliw bile and black bile causes diseases. So by maintaining the balance between the body humors can help the person to regain the health.

Maimonodies: A medieval Jewish philosopher, whose full name is Mose Ben Maimon. According to him medicine is a religious obligation and is highly respected. He emphasised the need of broad education and health for Doctors. He had a deep faith in Bible and written many prayers, of asking God's help and presence while treating the sick. He died on 1204 at Cairo. He encouraged the people not to meet too many physicians. He advised that no medical measures for psychosomatic disorders or mental illness instead provide a peaceful environment for soul to relax.  

Basil : Saint Basil or Basil of Caesarea was the Bishop of Caesarea Mazaca in Asia minor. He also called as St. Basil the great. He was a theologian as well as he worked for underprivileged and poor people. He distributed his fortunes for poor people and focusef on monastic life. He emphasised the value of manual labour by the people. According to his view medicine should be practiced along with Piety. He advised the people to immune towards disease by taking good food and drink, so that the need of medical care will get lessen. With the support of Bible verse " In the sweat of thy face , shalt thou eat thy bread" he stated physical labour or agriculture is a Perfect way to gey rid of majority of illness. He viewed herbs and medicines from the herbs are the gift of God for human beings to reduce the disease occurance.  

Camillus: Camillus de Lellis was a Roman Catholic priest , born on 1550. He dedicated his life for the care of sick and he founded a mission ' Camillions', a religious order for serving the sick. According to St. Camillus, Jesus Christ , the founder of Christian church, ordered his disciples to heal the sick. So each Camillions should serve the purpose. He emphasised the need of Practical charity and need of systematic nursing. He himself become a care giver in the hospital at Rome. He raised the voice against the staffs' poor performance in patient care and ensured the quality patient care.

Crusaders ; During the Crusades , many got wounded and sick in the Military attacks. Many Crusaders were having the knowledge of ancient Greek that the imbalance in body humors make the person sick. So they used to try the interventions like letting the blood away, or indice vomiting etc. But careful observation of patient was done . Later in crusades physician starts to accompany the soldiers, who got liberal educations from Universities. Gradually the new inventions of medicines and importance of clean environment , lighting and air was understood by the Crusaders. They start to adapt the modern methods of medicine.