The Modern Oath of Hippocrates

  We owe the American Medical Association our profound and sincere apology.

  The so-called Modern Oath of Hippocrates which had previously been on this

  site is incorrect. Although we received the "Modern Oath" from a reliable

  medical doctor, unfortunately that oath did not originate from the AMA.

  The AMA has been kind enough to do some in-house research to determine

  if the Modern Oath on this site had somehow originated from the AMA. It

  had not. The AMA has a code of ethics, but there is, in fact, no version of

  the Hippocratic Oath that the AMA espouses or promotes. This is the

  information we have received from the AMA's Ethics Division. Our own

  research on the Hippocratic Oath, inspired by the discovery that our

  posting of the Modern Oath did not originate from the AMA, has been

  most interesting. While it is common knowledge among both doctors and

  the lay public that doctors take an oath that says, "Never do harm,"

  the fact is that not all medical schools require their graduating doctors

  take the Hippocratic Oath. In addition, Medicine's use of the Oath

  changes over time. Here are some items for your consideration, the

  results of a study by Robert Orr, M.D. and Norman Pang, M.D., in

  which 157 deans of allopathic and osteopathic schools of medicine in

  Canada and the United States were surveyed regarding the use of the

  Hippocratic Oath: 1. In 1993, 98% of schools administered some form

  of the Oath. 2. In 1928, only 26% of schools administered some form

  of the Oath. 3. Only 1 school used the original Hippocratic Oath. 4. 68

  schools used versions of the original Hippocratic Oath. 5. 100% of

  current Oaths pledge a commitment to patients. 6. Only 43% vow to

  be accountable for their actions. 7. 14% include a prohibition against

  euthanasia. 8. Only 11% invoke a diety. 9. 8% prohibit abortion. 10.

  Only 3% prohibit sexual contact with patients. From - "The Use of the

  Hippocratic Oath: A Review of 20th Century Practice and a Content

  Analysis of Oaths Administered in Medical Schools in the U.S. and

  Canada in 1993." by Robert D. Orr, M.D. and Norman Pang, M.D.

  UPDATE The British Medical Association, in March 1997, published

  their first draft of a revised Hippocratic Oath to be considered

  by the World Medical Association. If you would like to hear the

  critique of this proposed revised Oath by The Gersten Institute,

  click here. "The Oath, a set of ethical principles derived from the

  writings of the ancient Greek physician Hippocrates, has been

  updated to put patients first. It aims to be a unifying force, superseding

  national, ethnic, religious and cultural boundaries by focusing on widely

  shared values. The new wording can be adapted by nurses, paramedics

  and other health professionals." Commenting on the revised wording,

  Dr Sandy Macara, chairman of the BMA Council, said:

  "It is as important now as ever it was for doctors to have

  an agreed statement of ethical principles. On qualifying, doctors

  need such a statement to make a public commitment to the professional

  responsibilities they are assuming. Thereafter these principles should

  provide guidance in the increasingly difficult ethical decisions they will

  make throughout their professional lives. "The value of this update will

  be all the greater if it comes into use by every doctor qualifying from

  every medical school in the world." The BMA has been campaigning for

  the past five years for a revitalization of the Hippocratic values. It

  has gathered examples of ethical codes from all over the world and

  common points from these have been integrated into the new wording.

  The BMA has undertaken this work on behalf of the

  World Medical Association as the first stage of a revision of

  the current international code of medical ethics,

  the Geneva Declaration, which celebrates its 50th anniversary next year.

  Appendix I DRAFT REVISION OF THE HIPPOCRATIC OATH The

  practice of medicine is a privilege which carries important responsibilities.

  All doctors should observe the core values of the profession which center

  on the duty to help sick people and to avoid harm. I promise that my

  medical knowledge will be used to benefit people's health.

  They are my first concern. I will listen to them and provide the best

  care I can. I will be honest, respectful and compassionate towards

  patients. In emergencies, I will do my best to help anyone in medical need.

  I will make every effort to ensure that the rights of all patients are

  respected, including vulnerable groups who lack means of making their

  needs known, be it through immaturity, mental incapacity, imprisonment

  or detention or other circumstance. My professional judgement will

  be exercised as independently as possible and not be influenced by

  political pressures nor by factors such as the social standing of the

  patient. I will not put personal profit or advancement above my duty

  to patients. I recognize the special value of human life but I also

  know that the prolongation of human life is not the only aim of healthcare.

  Where abortion is permitted, I agree that it should take place only

  within an ethical and legal framework. I will not provide treatments

  which are pointless or harmful or which an informed and competent

  patient refuses. I will ensure patients receive the information and

  support they want to make decisions about disease prevention and

  improvement of their health. I will answer as truthfully as I can and

  respect patients' decisions unless that puts others at risk of harm.

  If I cannot agree with their requests, I will explain why. If my

  patients have limited mental awareness, I will still encourage them

  to participate in decisions as much as they feel able and willing to

  do so. I will do my best to maintain confidentiality about all patients.

  If there are overriding reasons which prevent my keeping a patient's

  confidentiality I will explain them. I will recognize the limits of my

  knowledge and seek advice from colleagues when necessary. I will

  acknowledge my mistakes. I will do my best to keep myself and colleagues

  informed of new developments and ensure that poor standards or

  bad practices are exposed to those who can improve them. I will

  show respect for all those with whom I work and be ready to share

  my knowledge by teaching others what I know. I will use my training

  and professional standing to improve the community in which I work.

  I will treat patients equitably and support a fair and humane

  distribution of health resources. I will try to influence positively

  authorities whose policies harm public health. I will oppose policies

  which breach internationally accepted standards of human rights.

  I will strive to change laws which are contrary to patients' interests

  or to my professional ethics. APPENDIX 2 Translation of the

  Original Hippocratic Oath by authors of this BMA draft. "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 judgement,

  I will keep this Oath . . . " Commentary from The Gersten Institute 1.

  Be it declareth this date, October 4, 1998, that the above

  Revised Hippocratic Oath, herein and hereafter referred to as RHO is

  a wee bit dry. Okay, let's get to the point. There is not enough heart in

  the RHO. It does not move or inspire. As a physician who has no recall

  at all if my medical school administered any version of the Hippocratic

  Oath in 1975, the year I graduated, I strongly believe that if doctors

  are to take an Oath ONCE in their lifetime, it should be a powerful,

  impassioned Oath that carries, at the very least, the spirit of the

  original Hippocratic Oath. 2. RHO is couched in a good deal of legal

  terminology. Perhaps that is necessary in this era of medicine, but it

  only adds to the growing distance between doctors and patients and

  does not, in my opinion, advance the real issue, namely quality of care.

  3. The philosophy and principles contained in the RHO are good and

  sound. 4. The BMA translation of the original Oath is interesting.

  Instead of the correct translation in the first line, which refers to

  the Greek Gods Apollo, Aesculapius, Hygeia, and Panacea, this

  translation mis-tranlates "Hygeia" as "Health" and "Panacea" as

  "All-Heal." We should have a genuinely honest translation before

  we can consider revisions. 5. Gallup polls in the 1990's show that

  95% of Americans believe in God and that 50% of atheists and

  agnostics PRAY! 50% of patients would like their doctors to pray

  with them. While it is correct to "drop the Greek Gods," is it a

  disservice to both doctors and patients to totally leave out the spiritual

  dimension in the RHO? I think so. It is an impossible task to try to

  capture the spirit of the original Hippocratic Oath while throwing out

  all mention of God, holiness, sacredness, and spirituality. It is necessary

  and sufficient as physicians to swear to practice according to the highest

  dictates of our conscience, with God (as we know and call Him or Her)

  as our witness. 6. With these items considered, perhaps the world should

  consider this Revised Hippocratic Oath. On the other hand, perhaps

  Hippocrates knew what he was doing. Perhaps we should keep the original

  Oath and simply make note that Apollo, Aesculapius, Hygeia, and

  Panacea are not universally accepted. Nor is Jesus, Buddha, Allah,

  Krishna or

  Ahura Mazda. Dennis Gersten, M.D.

Top Page

Return to main Index