Physical and Behavioral Characteristics of Physicians from the Perspective of Traditional Iranian Medicine

Great physicians of traditional Iranian medicine believed that it is essential for a physician to know medical ethics. They paid special attention to ethics not only in their manuscripts but also in their practice. They even specified many characteristics which are desirable and necessary for physicians. The purpose of this research was to study the apparent characteristics necessary for physicians، from the perspective of traditional Iranian medicine (Persian medicine). This study is a review article، which has overviewed traditional Iranian medicine literature and textbooks، to find the suggestions about the physical characteristics that are essential for physicians. In Iranian civilization، both before and after Islam، special attention has been paid to physicians'' characteristics as well as their knowledge and morality. Having desirable appearance، clothing and good manners have been recommended. Traditional Iranian physicians have expressed great advices with details about the condition of the patients'' bedside، manner of speech، and the type and quality of clothing، appearance and personal hygiene، how to express feelings، how to interact with patients and their family and even personal habits such as sleep، food and leisure. According to the texts of traditional Iranian medicine it seems behavioral characteristics of physicians are as importance as their knowledge.