Medical deontology and legal-moral status of women in Rodrigo de Castro

Abstract

This paper intends to provide a reading of some chapters of De morbis mulierum (1603) and of Medicus Politicus (1604) devoted by Rodrigo de Castro to the moral and legal issue of women's chastity and fidelity. Both aiming to protect marital harmony and condemn the attitude of female matchmakers who drove young and older women to licentiousness, Castro sought to encourage them to regain their physical and moral integrity. In order to contextualize Rodrigo de Castro’s position, a brief comparison of the work of jurist Rui Gonçalves and doctor Luís de Mercado will be carried out.