Perhaps the most unique aspect of medicine, alongside its intimate dealings with life and mortality, is its undiscriminating nature towards all. Medical practitioners are taught that no matter the patient, whether white or black, male or female, saint or sinner, gay or heterosexual, right- or left-wing, each person deserves an equally high standard of health care.

The Declaration of Geneva, the oath taken by incoming doctors across the globe, states this quite plainly:

“I will not permit considerations of age, disease or disability, creed, ethnic origin, gender, nationality, political affiliation, race, sexual orientation, social standing or any other factor to intervene between my duty and my patient;

I will maintain the utmost respect for human life;

I will not use my medical knowledge to violate human rights and civil liberties, even under threat;

I make these promises solemnly, freely and upon my honour.”

This is strange to accept because it is so unnatural. It is entirely normal to pass judgments onto others and behave differently depending on the circumstance. When put with dangerous individuals, one should behave cautiously to protect their life. To treat everybody as equals is either a complete failure of emotional intelligence, or a radical form of love.

Fundamentally, the Declaration of Geneva borders on a devotion as radical as religion.

Yet, in an unrelated field, one with far less glamour and drama, a similar type of radicalism can be found. This is in the world of literature.

An underlying theme in good novels is the idea of non-discrimination. In works that move people, taboos are examined closely and sensitive issues like rape, abuse and death are embraced with full acceptance. In Crime and Punishment, the protagonist is a murderer. In The Fountainhead, the protagonist rapes a woman. In War and Peace, nearly half of the main characters die. No issue is off-limits.

As Ernest Hemingway said:
“As a man you know who is right and who is wrong. You have to make decisions and enforce them. As a writer you should not judge.

You should understand.”