Democratic Underground Latest Greatest Lobby Journals Search Options Help Login
Google

Does it matter any more, did it ever matter: Hippocratic Oath - I swear by Apollo the physician...

Printer-friendly format Printer-friendly format
Printer-friendly format Email this thread to a friend
Printer-friendly format Bookmark this thread
This topic is archived.
Home » Discuss » Archives » General Discussion (1/22-2007 thru 12/14/2010) Donate to DU
 
bridgit Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Wed May-13-09 01:24 AM
Original message
Does it matter any more, did it ever matter: Hippocratic Oath - I swear by Apollo the physician...
...and Asclepius, and Hygieia and Panacea and all the gods and goddesses as my witnesses, that, according to my ability and judgement, I will keep this Oath and this contract:

To hold him who taught me this art equally dear to me as my parents, to be a partner in life with him, and to fulfill his needs when required; to look upon his offspring as equals to my own siblings, and to teach them this art, if they shall wish to learn it, without fee or contract; and that by the set rules, lectures, and every other mode of instruction, I will impart a knowledge of the art to my own sons, and those of my teachers, and to students bound by this contract and having sworn this Oath to the law of medicine, but to no others.

I will use those dietary regimens which will benefit my patients according to my greatest ability and judgement, and I will do no harm or injustice to them.

I will not give a lethal drug to anyone if I am asked, nor will I advise such a plan; and similarly I will not give a woman a pessary to cause an abortion.

In purity and according to divine law will I carry out my life and my art.

I will not use the knife, even upon those suffering from stones, but I will leave this to those who are trained in this craft.

Into whatever homes I go, I will enter them for the benefit of the sick, avoiding any voluntary act of impropriety or corruption, including the seduction of women or men, whether they are free men or slaves.

Whatever I see or hear in the lives of my patients, whether in connection with my professional practice or not, which ought not to be spoken of outside, I will keep secret, as considering all such things to be private.

So long as I maintain this Oath faithfully and without corruption, may it be granted to me to partake of life fully and the practice of my art, gaining the respect of all men for all time. However, should I transgress this Oath and violate it, may the opposite be my fate.

http://www.nlm.nih.gov/hmd/greek/greek_oath.html
Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
muriel_volestrangler Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Wed May-13-09 07:41 AM
Response to Original message
1. In the days before a government that regulated medical practice, it probably mattered
When people wanted to know that a healer took their calling seriously, and wasn't using it as a way to seduce women or similar. But it's not really needed now. My father practised medicine for about 35 years without ever having taken any kind of oath; it's not as if the 'oath' (I presume there's an 'affirmation' or similar for any school that insists its graduates say it, for when they're non-religious) has any kind of legal standing.
Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
MineralMan Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Wed May-13-09 08:38 AM
Response to Original message
2. I love pointing out to fundamentalcases
that that oath is to pagan deities. I do this when the anti-choice idiots use this oath in an attempt to claim that doctors who perform abortions are anti-Christian.

They are often surprised. They usually remain stupid, though.
Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
DU AdBot (1000+ posts) Click to send private message to this author Click to view 
this author's profile Click to add 
this author to your buddy list Click to add 
this author to your Ignore list Wed May 15th 2024, 07:16 PM
Response to Original message
Advertisements [?]
 Top

Home » Discuss » Archives » General Discussion (1/22-2007 thru 12/14/2010) Donate to DU

Powered by DCForum+ Version 1.1 Copyright 1997-2002 DCScripts.com
Software has been extensively modified by the DU administrators


Important Notices: By participating on this discussion board, visitors agree to abide by the rules outlined on our Rules page. Messages posted on the Democratic Underground Discussion Forums are the opinions of the individuals who post them, and do not necessarily represent the opinions of Democratic Underground, LLC.

Home  |  Discussion Forums  |  Journals |  Store  |  Donate

About DU  |  Contact Us  |  Privacy Policy

Got a message for Democratic Underground? Click here to send us a message.

© 2001 - 2011 Democratic Underground, LLC