[Polybius]

The Hippocratic Oath is an outdated classical relic that, if followed, would prohibit surgery" Thank you. You have just declaired that your oath is outdated. ....this means... by my Eurowheenie logic.... ...that Americans are barbarians?

Have you ever actually read the Hippocratic Oath, genius?

Among other things, it prohibits surgery and all abortions which you Europeans treasure so much.

The Oath is so outdated that it is no longer actually recited by medical graduates.

It is not now nor has it ever been "my oath". In my practice, I do "use the knife".

[Hun in the sun]

"The Oath is so outdated that it is no longer actually recited by medical graduates."

You won`t tell this my german Doc,
won`t you?

Thank you,
Hun

[AnAmericanMother]

Point of order . . .

At the time of Hippocrates (and right up into 18th century England) the physicians and the surgeons were distinct groups and in a great rivalry. Hence the Hippocratic oath not to "poach" in "chirurgeons'" territory.

I sure wouldn't have wanted one of those geniuses in London around 1650 or so to be "cutting" on me "for the stone" - the only quasi-abdominal surgery they could do without a 100 percent mortality rate . . . although good old Pepys survived it TWICE . . .