Which belief system contributed to a surge in health care with public hospitals and high standards, but hindered by physicians' reluctance to touch blood and dissection prohibitions?

Which belief system contributed to a surge in health care with public hospitals and high standards, but hindered by physicians' reluctance to touch blood and dissection prohibitions?

• A. Buddhism
• B. Hinduism
• C. Taoism
• D. Islam

Answer: (A)

The main idea here is how a belief system shapes medical care and the study of medicine. Buddhism helped expand health care by supporting charitable care, monastic hospitals, and organized patient care, with monasteries often running facilities, training healers, and serving the sick. This created a surge in organized health services and higher standards of care in many communities. At the same time, Buddhism’s emphasis on non-harm and respect for life led to reluctance to touch blood and to restrictions on dissection or autopsy. These taboos hindered procedures that involve cutting into or examining the body, limiting the development of anatomy and invasive medical knowledge. So, Buddhism best fits both parts of the description: promoting hospital-based care and higher care standards, while its rules regarding blood and dissection posed barriers to anatomical study.

The main idea here is how a belief system shapes medical care and the study of medicine. Buddhism helped expand health care by supporting charitable care, monastic hospitals, and organized patient care, with monasteries often running facilities, training healers, and serving the sick. This created a surge in organized health services and higher standards of care in many communities.

At the same time, Buddhism’s emphasis on non-harm and respect for life led to reluctance to touch blood and to restrictions on dissection or autopsy. These taboos hindered procedures that involve cutting into or examining the body, limiting the development of anatomy and invasive medical knowledge.

So, Buddhism best fits both parts of the description: promoting hospital-based care and higher care standards, while its rules regarding blood and dissection posed barriers to anatomical study.