Ut iuvet et non noceat: médico, paciente y enfermedad en el Introitus de Amato Lusitano a las Curationum medicinalium centuriae

Abstract

The aim of this paper is to analyze the proemium of the famous work Cura-tionum medicinalium centuriae by Amatus Lusitanus (1511-1568), one of the best-known Portuguese doctors in Renaissance Europe. This first part, entitled by him Introitus medici ad aegrotantem, focuses on describing the key aspects of patient-doctor relationship according to the Hippocratic theory. This paper contributes not only to explain how a physician and his patient must behave in their first meeting according to Amatus but also to reveal how he deals with classical and medieval sources in order to create his own speech. Furthermore, it is shown how this text can also be considered an introduction or isagogé for physicians and especially for students of medicine.