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To: epow

Here is the "classical" version of the oath:

"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."


867 posted on 01/17/2006 6:57:40 PM PST by cccp_hater (Just the facts please)
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To: cccp_hater
Thanks. I only wish that the Oregon doctors would take that oath seriously. But with the money they'll now be raking in for a few seconds of scribbling indecipherable gibberish on a scrap of paper I know it's not gonna happen.
915 posted on 01/17/2006 9:23:26 PM PST by epow (Where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty, II Cor 3:17)
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To: cccp_hater
Re: Your post of the classical version of the Hippocratic Oath.

The classical version of the oath has limited applicability to modern physicians, according to a 1993 study by Robert Ro, M.D. and Norman Pang, M.D.

They surveyed 157 deans of schools of medicine in Canada and the United States regarding the use of the Hippocratic Oath. Their findings:

98% of schools administered some form of the Oath.
Only one medical school used the original Hippocratic Oath.
68 schools used versions of the original Hippocratic Oath.
100% of current Oaths pledge a commitment to patients.
Only 43% vow to be accountable for their actions.
14% include a prohibition against euthanasia.
11% invoke a deity.
8% prohibit abortion.
Only 3% prohibit sexual contact with patients

From http://www.bloodbook.com/hippoc.html:

916 posted on 01/17/2006 9:35:05 PM PST by TChad
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