I take to witness all the gods, all the goddesses, to keep according to my
ability and my judgement the
following Oath:
To consider dear to me as my parents him who taught me this art; to live in
common with him and if necessary share my goods with him; to look upon his
children as my own brothers, to teach them this art if they so desire without
fee or written promise; to impart to my sons and the sons of the master who
taught me and the disciples who have enrolled themselves and have agreed to
the rules of the profession, but to these alone, the precepts and the instruction.
I will prescribe regimen for the good of my patients according to my ability
and my judgement and never do harm to anyone. To please no one will
I prescribe a deadly drug, nor give advice which may cause his death.
Nor will I give a woman a pessary to procure abortion. But I will
preserve the purity of my life and my art. I will not cut for stone,
even for patients in whom the disease is manifest; I will leave this
operation to be performed by practitioners (specialists in this art).
In every house where I come I will enter only for the good of my
patients, keeping myself far from all intentional ill-doing and all
seduction, and especially from the pleasures of love with women or
with men, be they free or slaves. All that may come to my knowledge
in the exercise of my profession or outside my profession or in daily
commerce with men, which ought not be spread abroad, I will keep
secret and will never reveal. If I keep this oath faithfully, may
I enjoy my life and practice my art, respected by all men and in
all times; but if I swerve from it or violate it, may the reverse be my lot.
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