Hippocratic Oath Classical Version [No Abortions]

NOVA Online via PBS.org ^ | March 2001 | Hippocrates

[LurkedLongEnough]

Hippocrates, the father of medicine

Hippocratic Oath -- Classical Version

I swear by Apollo Physician and Asclepius and Hygieia and Panaceia and all the gods and goddesses, making them my witnesses, that I will fulfil 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 fulfil 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.

Translation from the Greek by Ludwig Edelstein. From The Hippocratic Oath: Text, Translation, and Interpretation, by Ludwig Edelstein. Baltimore: Johns Hopkins Press, 1943.

[LurkedLongEnough]

My teenager just pointed this out to me from a homework assignment, and I thought it would make an interesting post for those inclined to philosophical/public health debate. This is the first time I've read this through, so please bear with me.

Of course, PBS follows with the description of Hippocratic Oath "modern version" and invites debate over which one is "better".

[ScreamingFist]

Wow, good find.

[MoralSense]

I wrote a column long ago about this. Even the modern version does not include the words "First do no harm," which, in the media template, is what the Oath is, first, last, and always. Apparently Asculepius wrote that someplace else.

[HitmanLV]

Professional oaths are a crock, sorry to say.

One reason I don't practice law is that I didn't think I could practice law in nyc in a major corporate litigation firm and honor my oath into the profession.

So I quit the business. Heavy, huh?

[Dumb_Ox]

I was under the impression that not even the "modern" Hippocratic oath is considered binding on physicians.

[orionblamblam]

>I swear by Apollo Physician and Asclepius and Hygieia and Panaceia and all the gods and goddesses...

Those wacky, immoral pagans. Just *look* at the litany of sick perverted horrors to be expected from them:

*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.

*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


Yes, those evil, immoral pagans. Clearly no thought of morality ever crossed the minds of those who never read the 10 Commandments....

[Dumb_Ox]

Professional oaths are a crock, sorry to say.

If they are, we're in really big trouble. Or don't you consider the oaths military men take to defend the constitution a "professional oath"?

[HitmanLV]

Don;t get me wrong. I was just saying that my experience and carrer in the legal profession (which has its own oaths) made it clear to me that few people took it seriously.

I came to the conclusion that I could not honor my oath and get the kind of career and money I wanted in law. TO get the latter, I had to compromise the former.

So I changed careers, and have been better off for it.

[HitmanLV]

Don;t get me wrong. I was just saying that my experience and carrer in the legal profession (which has its own oaths) made it clear to me that few people took it seriously.

I came to the conclusion that I could not honor my oath and get the kind of career and money I wanted in law. TO get the latter, I had to compromise the former.

So I changed careers, and have been better off for it.

[Marie]

Good point. (I won't say anything more as I don't want to be eaten alive...)