The Greek physician Hippocrates is regarded as the "Father of Medicine"
and his writings included the Oath which has formed the basis for
regulations in respect to medical conduct until recent times.
Reports suggest that many top teaching establishments no longer require
their medical students to swear allegiance to the Oath.
A commonly reported version of the Doctor's Oath follows......
I swear by Apollo Physician, by Asclepius, by Health, by Heal-all, and by all the gods and goddesses, making them witness, that I will carry out, according to my ability and judgement, this oath and this indenture:
To regard my teacher in this art as equal to my parents;
to make him partner in my livelihood, and when he is in need of money
to share mine with him;
to consider his offspring equal to my brothers;
to teach them this art, if they require to learn it, without fee or
indenture;
and to impart precept, oral instruction, and all the other learning,
to my sons, to the sons of my teacher, and to pupils who have signed
the indenture and sworn obedience to the physicians' Law, but to none
other.
I will use treatment to help the sick according to my ability and judgement, but I will never use it to injure or wrong them.
I will not give poison to anyone though asked to do so, nor will I suggest such a plan.
Similarly I will not give a pessary to a woman to cause abortion.
But in purity and holiness I will guard my life and my art.
I will not use the knife either on sufferers from stone, but will give
place to such as are craftsmen therein.
Into whosoever houses I enter, I will do so to help the sick, keeping
myself free from all intentional wrong-doing and harm, especially from
fornication with woman or man, bond or free.
Whatsoever in the course of my practice I see or hear (or even outside
my practice in social intercourse) that ought never to be published
abroad, I will not divulge, but consider such things to be holy secrets.
Now if I keep this oath and break it not, may I enjoy honour, in my life and art, among all men for all time, but if I transgress and forswear myself, may the opposite befall me.
Dated 16/9/2000