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The
oath ascribed by Hippocrates, who lived between 460
b.c. and 380 b.c, has not been exactly confirmed.
However, in the famous publication of Hippocrates
called "Epidemics," a portion of that publication
read, "As to diseases, make a habit of two things -
to help or, at least, to do no harm." This
particularly popular Latin phrase of primum non
nocere, which means "first, do no harm," is a very
popular phrase quoted by many lawyers and
individuals and ascribed to the Hippocratic Oath but
is no where found in the actual oath itself even
though it can be traced to the Hippocrates
publication, "Epidemics." The Hippocratic Oath has
been a tradition in many medical schools all over
the world and has been sworn to by many graduating
medical doctors. Many forms of this particular oath
have been revised over the years and used in many
countries and many institutions across the world,
though many physicians do not have any oath
administered to their graduating doctors.
The actual oath itself reads as follows:
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The Hippocratic Oath
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. |
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HIPPOCRATIC OATH