This contribution dwells upon the continuity of health profession regulations after Duke Cosimo de’ Medici’s reforms, carried on by his immediate successors and characterized by a restriction of illegality. As early as 1548, anyone practicing any medical profession within the territory was required to pass a qualifying exam in front of a cyclically drawn commission. The commission either confirmed or refused the suitability of the candidate, issuing a license that could establish limits on time or the allowed practices. The Examiners could schedule a new exam date, suggesting repeating university courses, practicing in hospitals or working alongside private practitioners. Despite the less incisive control in the suburbs, areas were found in which the legislation applied effectively, i.e. in Arezzo and on the Apennine side of Prato. The frequent pleas of the illegal operators to cancel their penalties would always be accepted by the Grand Dukes because of the difficulty for foreigners to know the norm. This shows a tolerant demeanour that was also present in other Italian areas. Among the given reasons were serious personal and economic family situations, fedi of illustrious personalities - a guarantee of the efficacy of the medical practices – and having given free help to the indigent. On the other hand, the requests for special licenses were conditioned by personal relationships with the Gran Dukes and the reputation of the operator, while empirici found greater difficulty due to a lack of any qualification to matriculate as doctors or surgeons. This rigidity of the rules was always balanced out by the wide freedom of choice - although bureaucratized - of the operator, whom the patient could turn to. This stood as a clear admission of the merits of some of the operators’ medical practices.
Abilitazione ed esercizio delle professioni mediche nella Firenze rinascimentale
Baldanzi, Francesco
2018-01-01
Abstract
This contribution dwells upon the continuity of health profession regulations after Duke Cosimo de’ Medici’s reforms, carried on by his immediate successors and characterized by a restriction of illegality. As early as 1548, anyone practicing any medical profession within the territory was required to pass a qualifying exam in front of a cyclically drawn commission. The commission either confirmed or refused the suitability of the candidate, issuing a license that could establish limits on time or the allowed practices. The Examiners could schedule a new exam date, suggesting repeating university courses, practicing in hospitals or working alongside private practitioners. Despite the less incisive control in the suburbs, areas were found in which the legislation applied effectively, i.e. in Arezzo and on the Apennine side of Prato. The frequent pleas of the illegal operators to cancel their penalties would always be accepted by the Grand Dukes because of the difficulty for foreigners to know the norm. This shows a tolerant demeanour that was also present in other Italian areas. Among the given reasons were serious personal and economic family situations, fedi of illustrious personalities - a guarantee of the efficacy of the medical practices – and having given free help to the indigent. On the other hand, the requests for special licenses were conditioned by personal relationships with the Gran Dukes and the reputation of the operator, while empirici found greater difficulty due to a lack of any qualification to matriculate as doctors or surgeons. This rigidity of the rules was always balanced out by the wide freedom of choice - although bureaucratized - of the operator, whom the patient could turn to. This stood as a clear admission of the merits of some of the operators’ medical practices.I documenti in IRIS sono protetti da copyright e tutti i diritti sono riservati, salvo diversa indicazione.
