"Love does no harm to its neighbor. Therefore love is the fulfillment of the law.” Ro13.10
“Primum non nocere” is the Latin phrase which means, "First, do no harm." This expression summarizes one of the core guidelines taught to all medical students. The premise behind this instruction serves to remind physicians that anything they do to help the patient should not do more harm than good. It is generally accepted that when you cut someone open in war you are trying to harm them but the same action on an operating table is seeking to heal. One can see why this precept is spoken over the shoulder of a young medical student as they are at the same time told to split open the patient’s chest with a scalpel. Do you see that what seems only a negative, is in truth a positive encouragement. The doctor is being told, “Go ahead, and cut them. You are not doing this to harm but to heal.”
Love’s wisdom expresses, primum non nocere as a prohibitive commandment not to commit adultery with your neighbors spouse, or steal from them or murderously take their life. If you first do no harm then you keep all these prohibitions. But love’s wisdom also expresses, primum non nocere not only as a prohibition but also as permission to sometime hurt your neighbor if it will heal them. All parents need to hear these words when spanking a young child; or restricting their freedom or refusing to give financial support that enables harmful choices. The precept also applies when a friend sharply rebukes a friend before they do something foolish. First do no harm, sometimes encourages us, “Go ahead and hurt them. You are not doing this to harm but to heal. 2/21/07 ts
