Thomas Percival (29 September 1740 – 30 August 1804) was an English physician, health reformer, ethicist and author who wrote an early code of
medical ethics. He drew up a pamphlet with the code in 1794 and wrote an expanded version in 1803, ''
Medical Ethics; or, a Code of Institutes and Precepts, Adapted to the Professional Conduct of Physicians and Surgeons'' in which he coined the expression "medical ethics". He was a founding subscriber of the
Portico Library in Manchester and a pioneering campaigner for
public health
Public health is "the science and art of preventing disease, prolonging life and promoting health through the organized efforts and informed choices of society, organizations, public and private, communities and individuals". Analyzing the det ...
measures and
factory regulation in the city.
Background
He was born in
Warrington,
Lancashire
Lancashire ( , ; abbreviated Lancs) is the name of a historic county, ceremonial county, and non-metropolitan county in North West England. The boundaries of these three areas differ significantly.
The non-metropolitan county of Lancas ...
, on 29 September 1740, the son of Joseph Percival and his wife, Margaret Orred.
He lost both his parents when he was three years old, so his older sister was responsible for his early education. Once he was old enough, he was placed in a private academy in his home town. He also spent time at the
Boteler Grammar School, Warrington. He was enrolled as one of the first students at
Warrington Academy in 1756. He achieved a good reputation in classical and theological studies.
Career
In 1761 he went to study Medicine at
Edinburgh University. He did further postgraduate study at
Leyden University in Holland and obtained his doctorate (
MD) in 1765.
He became a fellow to the
Royal Society
The Royal Society, formally The Royal Society of London for Improving Natural Knowledge, is a learned society and the United Kingdom's national academy of sciences. The society fulfils a number of roles: promoting science and its benefits, re ...
in the same year,
through a recommendation by his friend and patron
Lord Willoughby de Parham. In 1771 he hosted
Benjamin Franklin
Benjamin Franklin ( April 17, 1790) was an American polymath who was active as a writer, scientist, inventor, statesman, diplomat, printer, publisher, and political philosopher. Encyclopædia Britannica, Wood, 2021 Among the leading int ...
in
Manchester
Manchester () is a city in Greater Manchester, England. It had a population of 552,000 in 2021. It is bordered by the Cheshire Plain to the south, the Pennines to the north and east, and the neighbouring city of Salford to the west. The ...
, who went on to be a guest of Rev. John Michell at Thornhill Rectory; other guests being
Joseph Priestley
Joseph Priestley (; 24 March 1733 – 6 February 1804) was an English chemist, natural philosopher, separatist theologian, grammarian, multi-subject educator, and liberal political theorist. He published over 150 works, and conducted ...
and Messrs. Smeaton, Pringle and Ingenhousz. He was elected a Foreign Honorary Member of the
American Academy of Arts and Sciences
The American Academy of Arts and Sciences (abbreviation: AAA&S) is one of the oldest learned societies in the United States. It was founded in 1780 during the American Revolution by John Adams, John Hancock, James Bowdoin, Andrew Oliver, a ...
in 1789.
After working as a physician in Warrington from 1765, Percival took a similar post in Manchester from 1767. He was elected to the
American Philosophical Society
The American Philosophical Society (APS), founded in 1743 in Philadelphia, is a scholarly organization that promotes knowledge in the sciences and humanities through research, professional meetings, publications, library resources, and communit ...
in 1786 and to the
Royal Society of Edinburgh in 1787. He was a prominent member of the
Manchester Literary and Philosophical Society, of which he was a founder member and served as president during 1782-1804.
Percival holds an important place in the history of epidemiology for his analysis of the Bills of Mortality from 1772–6, and for his code of medical ethics. The latter was initially circulated privately as a book on jurisprudence in 1794 and as a result of solicited comments from colleagues then published in an expanded form with a change in title to Medical ethics in 1803. Percival had been asked by the
Manchester Royal Infirmary
Manchester Royal Infirmary (MRI) is a large NHS teaching hospital in Chorlton-on-Medlock, Manchester, England. Founded by Charles White in 1752 as part of the voluntary hospital movement of the 18th century, it is now a major regional and natio ...
to help with an internal dispute and became particularly concerned with the divisions that had arisen among the different branches of the profession – the physicians, surgeons, and apothecaries with their different backgrounds of training (university, hospital, and apprenticeship respectively). But he did not merely concern himself with intraprofessional relationships: he also laid down a code for conduct towards patients, whether rich or poor, and his ideas were rapidly taken up by the USA, Australia, and Canada — in fact, the ethical code introduced by the newly formed American Medical Association in 1847 used several passages taken directly from his book.
He died in Manchester on 30 August 1804 and is buried at Warrington Church.
Occupational health and medical ethics
Percival is also known for his early work in
Occupational health. He led a group of doctors to supervise textile mills, their report influenced
Robert Peel's to introduce the
Health and Morals of Apprentices Act 1802. The legislation stipulated that children could work only 12 hours per day, walls had to be washed, and visitors had to be admitted to factories so that they could make health-related suggestions.
Percival's ''
Medical Ethics'' served as a key source for the
American Medical Association
The American Medical Association (AMA) is a professional association and lobbying group of physicians and medical students. Founded in 1847, it is headquartered in Chicago, Illinois. Membership was approximately 240,000 in 2016.
The AMA's sta ...
(AMA) code, adopted in 1847. Though hyperbolic in its recognition of Percival, the AMA itself states:
The most significant contribution to Western medical ethical history subsequent to Hippocrates was made by Thomas Percival, an English physician, philosopher, and writer. In 1803, he published his ''Code of Medical Ethics''. His personality, his interest in sociological matters, and his close association with the Manchester Infirmary
Manchester Royal Infirmary (MRI) is a large NHS teaching hospital in Chorlton-on-Medlock, Manchester, England. Founded by Charles White in 1752 as part of the voluntary hospital movement of the 18th century, it is now a major regional and na ...
led to the preparation of a scheme of professional conduct relative to hospitals and other charities from which he drafted the code that bears his name.
As one expert writes, "The Percivalian code asserted the moral authority and independence of physicians in service to others, affirmed the profession's responsibility to care for the sick, and emphasized individual honor." Percival was a devout Christian.
[See Percival, (1781)]
Family
Percival was married to Elizabeth Basnett.
Selected works
*''Essays medical and experimental: on the following subjects, viz. I. The empiric. II. The dogmatic. Or, arguments for and against the use of theory and reasoning in physick. III. Experiments and observations on astringents and bitters IV. On the uses and operation of blisters. V. On the resemblance between chyle and milk''. London: for Joseph Johnson and B. Davenport, 1767 (followed by later editions)
*''Essays medical and experimental
ol. II on the following subjects: 1. On the Columbo root. 2. On the orchis root. 3. On the waters of Buxton and Matlock ... 4. On the medicinal uses of fixed air. 5. On the antiseptic and sweetening powers ... of factitious air. 6. On the noxious vapours of charcoal. 7. On the atrabilis. 8. On sea salt. 9. On coffee. To which are added, select histories of diseases ...'' London: for Joseph Johnson, 1773
*''Essays, medical philosophical and experimental''; By Thomas Percival, M.D. F.R.S. and A.S. Lond. F.R.S. and R.M.S. Edinb. Member of the Royal Society of Medicine at Paris ; of the Royal Society of Agriculture at Lyons ; and of the American Philosophy Soc. at Philadelphia, &c. &c. The fourth edition, revised and enlarged. 2 vols. Warrington: printed by W. Eyres, for J. Johnson, London, 1788–89
*''Medical ethics; or a Code of institutes and precepts, adapted to the professional interests of physicians and surgeons''. Manchester: S. Russell, 1803 (followed by later editions)
References
Further reading
*Brockbank, E. M. (1929) "History of Collegiate Teaching: some pioneers; Thomas Percival". In: ''Book of Manchester and Salford''. Manchester: Falkner & Co.; pp. 30–33.
*
*
* Percival, Thomas (1781).
A father's instructions; moral tales, fables, and reflections'. 5th edition.
* Percival, Thomas (1781).
A Socratic discourse on truth and faithfulness'.
* Percival, Thomas; Percival, Edward (1807).
The Works, Literary, Moral and Medical: To which are Prefixed Memoirs of His Life and Writings and a Selection from His Literary Correspondence'. J. Johnson
* Percival, Thomas; Percival, Edward (1807).
Memoirs of the life and writings of Thomas Percival (by E. Percival). To which is added, a selection from his literary correspondence'.
External links
*
{{DEFAULTSORT:Percival, Thomas
1740 births
1804 deaths
People educated at Boteler Grammar School
People from Warrington
18th-century English medical doctors
Fellows of the Royal Society
English medical writers
Fellows of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences
Fellows of the Royal Society of Edinburgh
Alumni of the University of Edinburgh
Leiden University alumni
English Dissenters
Fellows of the Society of Antiquaries of London
Manchester Literary and Philosophical Society
Members of the American Philosophical Society