this through the many lawsuits brought on by the doctors (Rawcliffe, 65). So the doctor in the Middle Ages in England really had only one option if they wanted to make a descent living and that was to become one of the best and most well known doctors so that they could treat the wealthier patients. This subject is brought up again in Rawcliffe’s article along with a few other issues. One is the fact that because doctors were trying to work their way up on the social ladder to treat wealthier patients it is a good assumption that by this time in the world doctors were starting to lose the closeness of the doctor-patient relationship found in a small community. I make this assumption based on the fact that in ancient times when there was a close doctor patient relationship it was because the doctor knew his patients. When communities started growing it became more difficult to know everyone in it and keep that same kind of close relationship. Also, when doctors started to earn a living their pursuit of the wealthiest patients probably limited their chances of a close relationship with them. There is also evidence of this when it tells us that there were many lawsuits brought on by doctors because people did not pay their bills (Rawcliffe, 65). I would say as a general rule in most societies usually a person does not sue a close friend or neighbor for not paying so this indicates to me that by this time doctors had started practicing on more than just the locals around them.The doctors that I just mentioned who were the personal physicians to kings and queens may not have had the high status in society that one may imagine they would. If you were to read the writings of Galen you would probably get the impression that doctors were respected and high on the social ladder because of the way Galen makes it sound like he is well respected in society. But, according to Vivian Nutton even the wealthiest and most well known phys...
