Review of The Virtuous Physician

[Jeanne Rose]

[Following is a volunteer review of "The Virtuous Physician" by Elliott B. Martin, Jr..]

---

4 out of 5 stars

---

Share This Review

---

The Virtuous Physician: A Brief Medical History of Moral Inquiry from Hippocrates to COVID-19 by Elliott B. Martin, Jr. is a heavily detailed account of the ethical challenges faced by the medical field—spanning from ancient Greece to the present, most notably addressing the recent COVID-19 pandemic.

Elliott B. Martin Jr., with his impressive resume, which includes expertise in linguistics and philology, translates a recovered, pseudo-Hippocratic text that outlines what it means to be a “virtuous physician.” As if that weren’t impressive enough, he includes his own scholarly reflections, merging Western and Eastern medical philosophies in a deeply academic tone.

The first part of the book felt more like a historical text, diving into the etymology of terms such as “physician” and “disease,” drawing from Thucydides’ account of the plague. The book concludes with a reflective examination of the events surrounding the COVID-19 pandemic.

I particularly like the cover of this book—a modern visualization of an ancient art style—serving as a picturesque reflection of the themes explored within. I also found no typographical or grammatical errors; the writing is impeccably scholarly, making it a strong contribution to medical literature.

However, I did notice major profanities early in the book, especially in the author’s remarks about modern practitioners using social media to engage with the public. Citing his own achievements as justification, he openly criticizes the pursuit of celebrity status among these practitioners. It’s a jarring contrast to the otherwise formal and technical tone of the book.

I would rate this book 4 out of 5 stars. It is undeniable that Elliott B. Martin is immensely knowledgeable in this field, giving him—rightfully so, as he declares in the preface—the authority to provide commentary on a comprehensive body of data. However, the dense academic language may prove challenging for non-medical practitioners unfamiliar with such technicalities.

******
The Virtuous Physician
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon