On Thursday evening, I took the following oath:
Today, in the presence of family, friends, teachers, and colleagues, I dedicate myself to the profession of Medicine.
I pledge myself to the service of humanity. I will use my skills to care for all in need, without bias and with openness of spirit. The health of my patients will be my first concern. I vow to hold sacred the bond between doctor and patient. I will hold in confidence all that my patients entrust to me. I will strive to alleviate suffering. I will respect the dignity and autonomy of my patients in living and dying.
As a Physician, I recognize my duty to society. I will work to promote health and prevent disease. I will advocate for the welfare of my community. Even under duress, I will not use my knowledge or my skills against humanity. I will acknowledge my limitations and my mistakes so that I may learn from them. To uphold these responsibilities, I will maintain my own well-being and the well-being of those close to me.
I will promote the integrity of the practice of Medicine. In the tradition of my profession, I honor all who teach me this Art. Through honest and respectful collaboration with my colleagues, I will seek new knowledge, reexamine ideas and practices of the past, and teach what I have learned.
Above all, the health of my patients will be my first concern.This Oath I take freely and upon my honor.
That, of course, is a far cry from the original Oath of Hippocrates:
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.
There are a couple of translations from the original Greek. The above is just one example.
Times have changed, no?
May 19th, 2007 at 9:54 am
I wonder why we still take an oath at all. It’s not taken seriously and is adjusted as times change. It’s like an antiquated religion that keeps changing just to stay cool. Good luck with residency.
May 19th, 2007 at 4:47 pm
I only partly agree MSG.
Certain parts of the oath are still true–in a varied way. Such as the teaching aspect, or the patient confidentiality aspect.
That and it felt pretty “cool” to recite it. I guess that play some part!
May 22nd, 2007 at 1:43 pm
I notice that the prohibitions against assisted suicide and abortion have been removed for one thing.
Congrats too.
May 23rd, 2007 at 8:33 am
Interesting. In wording, that’s pretty different from the oath I took, but in meaning, it’s pretty much the same. I like yours because it flows better but it lacks the famous “I will do no harm” line.
May 23rd, 2007 at 9:30 am
But “do no harm” isn’t in the original Hippocratic Oath. Check out its history at Wikipedia.
Interesting, I think.
And congrats to you Jess.