The doctors in Ancient Rome did not receive the respect given to doctors today. In fact, most Romans viewed doctors as cheats and charlatans. The magical tricks and lack of truly effective treatments led to this reputation. Most doctors had little training other than apprenticing with their senior. The profession became filled with many freed slaves and others who had failed at everything else they tried.
While many did try to find effective treatments and better their reputation of the profession, some went to extremes to con people out of their money. To advertise their services they took to the street corners; some would even do quick operations there on the street to attract a crowd. Public surgeries seemed to bring in business! Several accounts point to doctors acting Roman Surgeon as beauticians as well. They provided cosmetics, perfumes, and even did hairdressing. Unfortunately, the questionable behavior did not stop there. Some reports told of wives wanting to get rid of their husbands, so they would request the doctor to "put the patient out of his misery"! These blatant murders did not happen often but they shed some light onto the state of health care in Rome.
Things did improve, however. With the many wars the Roman Empire conducted, military medicine advanced the field. Military doctors discovered new techniques for treatment and adopted those of the areas they fought against. Hospitals also developed as a result of military influence. Civilian doctors worked out of the home or in storefronts.
As in most areas, the wealthier members of society could afford the best. They usually had personal doctors whose experience had proved their quality (they still maintained many of the magical practices of the day, however.). The Emperors had doctors and several times they proved useful. The Emperor Augustus' doctor saved him early in his life, surely affecting human history.
Women played an important role in health care as well in ancient Rome. Midwives delivered babies and became experts in women's health. They often filled the void left by the ignorance of doctors.