Quote of the Week: Hippocratic Oath
I swear by Apollo Physician, by Asclepius, by Hygieia, by Panacea, and by all the gods and goddesses, making them my witnesses, that I will carry out, according to my ability and judgment, this oath and this indenture.
To hold my teacher in this art equal to my own parents; to make him partner in my livelihood; when he is in need of money to share mine with him; to consider his family as my own brothers, and to teach them this art, if they want to learn it, without fee or indenture; to impart precept, oral instruction, and all other instruction to my own sons, the sons of my teacher, and to indentured pupils who have taken the physician’s oath, but to nobody else.
I will use treatment to help the sick according to my ability and judgment, but never with a view to injury and wrong-doing. Neither will I administer a poison to anybody when asked to do so, nor will I suggest such a course. Similarly I will not give to a woman a pessary to cause abortion. But I will keep pure and holy both my life and my art. I will not use the knife, not even, verily, on sufferers from stone, but I will give place to such as are craftsmen therein.
Into whatsoever houses I enter, I will enter to help the sick, and I will abstain from all intentional wrong-doing and harm, especially from abusing the bodies of man or woman, bond or free. And whatsoever I shall see or hear in the course of my profession, as well as outside my profession in my intercourse with men, if it be what should not be published abroad, I will never divulge, holding such things to be holy secrets.
Now if I carry out this oath, and break it not, may I gain for ever reputation among all men for my life and for my art; but if I break it and forswear myself, may the opposite befall me.[6] – Translation by W.H.S. Jones.
(Early/original version from Wikipedia)
Would someone please point out for us the line(s) where we vow to treat whole populations, or anyone demanding out abilities, working for free or even at a loss if need be?
I’ve had hospital CEO’s, the media, patients, politicians, medical students, and even colleagues fling the Oath in my face for years, but I still can’t find that verbiage. Please help.
Kidney stones can be interpreted as not doing surgery for which you are not qualified. Teaching women is just a cultural change. But eliminating the prohibitions on killing is really radical.
Wonderful ideals for when they were written.
Some do not work today. Kidney stones, right to choose, not teaching women and others who are learning medicine.
A classic work in morality and professionalism.
MY PERSONAL OPINION ONLY.