Misconception : Caduceus (☤) as Medical Symbol

Caduceus (Staff of Hermes), it is something that you'll probably find this symbol in almost every healthcare setup, medical institutions and medical associations. And apart from this, you'll also encounter it very often in ambulances. But there is a misconception about it. Well, originally it is not related to healthcare but belongs to the Greek god Hermes and related to commerce and trade but used mistakenly as a medical symbol from late 19th century in North America. The original symbol which is related to medical sciences is Rod of Asclepius which belongs to Greek god Asclepius.

The caduceus (☤) is the traditional symbol of Hermes and features two snakes winding around an often winged staff. It is often mistakenly used as a symbol of medicine instead of the Rod of Asclepius, especially in the United States. The two-snake caduceus design has ancient and consistent associations with trade, eloquence, negotiation, alchemy, wisdom, and controversially, thievery, lying, and the passage into the underworld.

The modern use of the caduceus as a symbol of medicine became established in the United States in the late 19th and early 20th century as a result of documented mistakes, misunderstandings and confusion.

Now, let's talk about the authentic medical symbol or widely acceptable medical symbol i.e. The Rod of Asclepius alias Staff of Asclepius.

In Greek mythology, the Rod of Asclepius(⚕), also known as the Staff of Asclepius (sometimes also spelled Asklepios or Aesculapius) and as the asklepian, is a serpent-entwined rod wielded by the Greek god Asclepius, a deity associated with healing and medicine. The symbol has continued to be used in modern times, where it is associated with medicine and health care, yet frequently confused with the staff of the god Hermes, the caduceus. Theories have been proposed about the Greek origin of the symbol and its implications.

Most organizations and services use the rod of Asclepius as their logo, or part of their logo.

For example:

Flag of World Health Organisation (WHO)

The Emergency Services - “Star of Life”

Many associations also used this symbol in various stylized manner.

Now, let's talk about the confusion with the caduceus i.e. why it is mistakenly used and popularised as a medical symbol?

It is relatively common, especially in the United States, to find the caduceus, with its two snakes and wings, used as a symbol of medicine instead of the Rod of Asclepius, with only a single snake. This usage was popularised largely as a result of the adoption of the caduceus as its insignia by the U.S. Army Medical Corps in 1902 at the insistence of a single officer (though there are conflicting claims as to whether this was Capt. Frederick P. Reynolds or Col. John R. van Hoff).

In January 1961, President Dwight D. Eisenhower famously warned about the growth of the “military-industrial complex” in his farewell address. Originally he spoke about the Political-Military-Industrial Complex but dropped the political. Included in the industrial part of his thinking was the medical-pharmaceutical industries.

The reason for his warning:

“Ever increasing profits lead to ever increasing greed which leads to corruption.”

What does this have to do with the caduceus, with its two snakes and wings, used as a symbol of medicine instead of the correct Rod of Asclepius with only a single snake.

Professionals tended to use the rod of Asclepius while commercial organizations use the Caduceus symbol. While the thinking may be that the professionals are more aware of the correct symbol, there is another factor that needs to be considered.

The Caduceus is the symbol of the god of the market place, Hermes. Also known as the patron god of commerce and the fat purse.

Likewise, Hermes was the special protector of the traveling salesmen. Additionally, Hermes was the spokesman for the other gods. He also had the gift of a silver tongue. His use of smooth words enabled him to make the worse things look and sound good.

Think about it. while there are a lot of wonderful doctors who truly try to do the right thing, the entire system is broke. Why do more and more people get sick every year...from their hospital stay. Why do we keep hearing about scandals regarding chemo therapy and antibiotics. Why do we hear of scandals regarding drug approvals that are found to do more harm than good.

The reason, the profit greedy medical, pharmaceutical complex is serving the right god. The god of greed and fat purses.

Again, this is in no way meant to disparage the wonderful doctors who are trying to do the right thing. This is the system that is causing the problem.

The Rod of Asclepius is the dominant symbol for professional healthcare associations in the United States. One survey found that 62% of professional healthcare associations used the rod of Asclepius as their symbol.

The same survey found that 76% of commercial healthcare organizations used the Caduceus symbol. The author of the study suggests the difference exists because professional associations are more likely to have a real understanding of the two symbols, whereas commercial organizations are more likely to be concerned with the visual impact a symbol will have in selling their products.

The long-standing and abundantly attested historical associations of the caduceus with commerce are considered by many to be inappropriate in a symbol used by those engaged in the healing arts.

This has occasioned significant criticism of the use of the caduceus in a medical context.

Stuart L. Tyson, wrote "The Caduceus", in The Scientific Monthly stated that "The Caduceus, representing the god who would be better suited as a " conductor of the dead to their subterranean abode" and "...his emblem would seem more appropriate on a hearse than on a physician's car."

No Stuart, considering that the hospital industry is the third leading cause of death, the medical profession got it right. The profession on the whole is doing more harm than good.

P.S. It's a big misconception that caduceus is a medical symbol. The real one and widely accepted is Rod of Asclepius.

Hope this helps!

✍ Debashish Barik