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The
Hippocratic Oath
One of the most noted documents from the Hippocratic Corpus is the Oath.
Upholding this oath would have bound a physician to a much stricter standard
of behavior than most classical Greek doctors. One of the enduring legacies
of the oath is the notion that a doctor will keep secret information he
may encounter in the course of treating patients privately.
I SWEAR by Apollo the physician, and Aesculapius, and Health,
and All-heal, and all the gods and goddesses, that, according to my
ability and judgment, I will keep this Oath and this stipulation- to
reckon him who taught me this Art equally dear to me as my parents,
to share my substance with him, and relieve his necessities if required;
to look upon his offspring in the same footing as my own brothers, and
to teach them this art, if they shall wish to learn it, without fee
or stipulation; and that by precept, lecture, 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 disciples bound by a stipulation and oath
according to the law of medicine, but to none others. I will follow
that system of regimen which, according to my ability and judgment,
I consider for the benefit of my patients, and abstain from whatever
is deleterious and mischievous. I will give no deadly medicine to any
one if asked, nor suggest any such counsel; and in like manner I will
not give to a woman a pessary to produce abortion. With purity and with
holiness I will pass my life and practice my Art. I will not cut persons
laboring under the stone, but will leave this to be done by men who
are practitioners of this work. Into whatever houses I enter, I will
go into them for the benefit of the sick, and will abstain from every
voluntary act of mischief and corruption; and, further from the seduction
of females or males, of freemen and slaves. Whatever, in connection
with my professional practice or not, in connection with it, I see or
hear, in the life of men, which ought not to be spoken of abroad, I
will not divulge, as reckoning that all such should be kept secret.
While I continue to keep this Oath unviolated, may it be granted to
me to enjoy life and the practice of the art, respected by all men,
in all times! But should I trespass and violate this Oath, may the reverse
be my lot!
--Quoted from Francis Adams (translator), The Genuine Works of Hippocrates,
New York: William Wood and Company. Volume 2, p. 278.
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