The Hippocratic Oath

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It's times like these that warrant a look back into history. The Hippocratic Oath has been influencing medical care providers for centuries. While commonly viewed as outdated and irrelevant, it is worth reading in light of the controversy surrounding health care in our country and the news regarding Michael Jackson's death. It's also interesting to note the link between diet and health.

THE HIPPOCRATIC OATH (full text)

Traditional text

I swear by Apollo Physician and Asclepius and Hygieia and Panaceia and all the gods and goddesses, making them my witnesses, that I will fulfill according to my ability and judgment this oath and this covenant:

To hold him who has taught me this art as equal to my parents and to live my life in partnership with him, and if he is in need of money to give him a share of mine, and to regard his offspring as equal to my brothers in male lineage and to teach them this art - if they desire to learn it - without fee and covenant; to give a share of precepts and oral instruction and all the other learning to my sons and to the sons of him who has instructed me and to pupils who have signed the covenant and have taken an oath according to the medical law, but no one else.

I will apply dietetic measures for the benefit of the sick according to my ability and judgment; I will keep them from harm and injustice.

I will neither give a deadly drug to anybody who asked for it, nor will I make a suggestion to this effect. Similarly I will not give to a woman an abortive remedy. In purity and holiness I will guard my life and my art.

I will not use the knife, not even on sufferers from stone, but will withdraw in favor of such men as are engaged in this work.

Whatever houses I may visit, I will come for the benefit of the sick, remaining free of all intentional injustice, of all mischief and in particular of sexual relations with both female and male persons, be they free or slaves.

What I may see or hear in the course of the treatment or even outside of the treatment in regard to the life of men, which on no account one must spread abroad, I will keep to myself, holding such things shameful to be spoken about.

If I fulfill this oath and do not violate it, may it be granted to me to enjoy life and art, being honored with fame among all men for all time to come; if I transgress it and swear falsely, may the opposite of all this be my lot.

Translation from the Greek by Ludwig Edelstein. From The Hippocratic Oath: Text, Translation, and Interpretation, by Ludwig Edelstein. Baltimore: Johns Hopkins Press, 1943. http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/doctors/oath_classical.html

3 comments :

  1. This is so interesting to read...I wonder how much attention is paid to it by these young residents coming out into their practices?
    I like the emphasis on diet and health, too, Andrea! Maybe a few of us should take a copy to our doctors office and leave it off?
    Or not....interesting to see that abortion is mentioned as clearly as it is....wonder what part of this oath the docs don't understand?

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  2. How incredible. I can't say that I've actually ever read this in full... On many levels even though I think physicians still need to "swear" to this many do not seem to take heed to what they have sworn... What a better world it would be if they all did.

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