[The medical profession in the medieval Arabic conversation]

In the medieval Arabic culture the medical profession was discussed in several ways. Major themes were: the image of the physician with strong roots in the Greek medical ethics; the rivalry between physicians often showing itself in the accusation of quackery; the competition with paramedics; the stupidity or unwillingness of patients; the medical success story in which the physician has almost super natural powers. Most of these elements are discussed along with the history of a famous family of physicians, the Bukhtishu, who served as court-physicians to many of the Abbasidic caliphs.