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The Hippocratic Oath
Original Version of the Hippocratic Oath
I swear by Apollo, the healer, Asclepius, Hygieia, and Panacea, and I take to witness all the gods, all the goddesses, to keep according to my ability and my judgment, the following Oath and agreement:
To consider dear to me, as my parents, him who taught me this art; to live in common with him and, if necessary, to share my goods with him; to look upon his children as my own brothers, to teach them this art.
I will prescribe regimens for the good of my patients according to my ability and my judgment and never do harm to anyone.
I will not give a lethal drug to anyone if I am asked, nor will I advise such a plan; and similarly I will not give a woman a pessary to cause an abortion.
But I will preserve the purity of my life and my arts.
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 in daily commerce with men, which ought not to 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. An Open Invitation To Medical Writers
 Lily
Photography by Amazon Art Reproductions
Copyright 2009 AD
Welcome to the Medical Ethics web site!
If you are a professional writer, seriously interested in the realm of medical ethics, your articles are important! Please note that all articles will be screened, in order to maintain the highest possible level of medical-ethical standards oriented to healing, health and happiness as well as wholeness of the body, soul, mind and spirit.
What is Medical Ethics?
"Medical ethics is primarily a field of applied ethics, the study of moral values and judgments as they apply to medicine. As a scholarly discipline, medical ethics encompasses its practical application in clinical settings as well as work on its history, philosophy, theology and sociology.
Medical ethics tends to be understood narrowly as an applied professional ethics, whereas bioethics appears to have worked more expansive concerns,touching upon the philosophy of science and the critique of biotechnology. Still, the two fields often overlap and the distinction is more a matter of style than professional consensus. Medical ethics shares many principles with other branches of healthcare ethics, such as nursing ethics." (1)
Principles of medical ethics
I. A physician shall be dedicated to providing competent medical care, with compassion and respect for human dignity and rights.
II. A physician shall uphold the standards of professionalism, be honest in all professional interactions, and strive to report physicians deficient in character or competence, or engaging in fraud or deception, to appropriate entities.
III. A physician shall respect the law and also recognize a responsibility to seek changes in those requirements which are contrary to the best interests of the patient.
IV. A physician shall respect the rights of patients, colleagues, and other health professionals, and shall safeguard patient confidences and privacy within the constraints of the law.
V. A physician shall continue to study, apply, and advance scientific knowledge, maintain a commitment to medical education, make relevant information available to patients, colleagues, and the public, obtain consultation, and use the talents of other health professionals when indicated.
VI. A physician shall, in the provision of appropriate patient care, except in emergencies, be free to choose whom to serve, with whom to associate, and the environment in which to provide medical care.
VII. A physician shall recognize a responsibility to participate in activities contributing to the improvement of the community and the betterment of public health.
VIII. A physician shall, while caring for a patient, regard responsibility to the patient as paramount.
IX. A physician shall support access to medical care for all people.
Adopted by the AMA's House of Delegates June 17, 2001.
(1) http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Medical_ethics.
What Are Medical Ethics All About?
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Debates On Medical Ethic Issues - Yes
Debate - Yes - Written by Casey Lyn - Facing a medical emergency can be a very difficult, emotional experience. Since most of us do not possess medical degrees, we trust the advice and intuition from an accredited doctor. The problem is that although medical science is advancing, knowing the most effective treatment for a specific individual is often times through trial and error. Since there are usually not concrete answers, doctors must have empathy in order to relate to their patients.
- Debate - Yes - Written by Olivia Bredbenner - If doctors are not empathetic it would be apparent to most of the patients in their care. However, you might need to know it is not what you'll see first when receiving care. Most physicians are both empathetic and objective during their physical assessment and treatment of patients. It is part of their bedside manner. Some doctors are better at this than others.
- Debate - Yes - Written by Reynold Conger - I suppose it is possible for a doctor to practice medicine with no emotional connection with his or her patients, but all of the good doctors have empathy for their patients. In many cases, the reason they went into medicine in the first place was out of a concern for hurting people suffering from disease.
Watching my grandfather practice medicine, I understood why the best doctors are those with the most empathy.
The Quest For Ethical Answers
- Written by Ernie Yap - Ethics are set of laws within the healthcare community of which guarantees its autonomy, of its ability to govern itself. Its existence is the more assuring advertisement billboard to the public of the integrity of the profession and that their sick are in good, reliable, compassionate hands. The existence of an ideal in a materialistic society is bound to sprout problems.
- Written by Helen Borel - So you're critically ill. Do you want a real M.D. at your ICU (Intensive Care Unit) bedside? Or will you settle for some doc in a room somewhere (maybe Alaska, maybe India) - like a telemarketer - watching a bunch of monitors and distance-gathering your signs, symptoms, oxygenation levels, lab results and pain levels without ever touching you or seeing you in-person? Well, like it or not, it's here!
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Medical Ethics And Truth
- Lack of Knowledge Or Lack of Adequate Knowledge Regarding Natural Cures - Written by W. Diane Van Zwol - No - "Is the truth about natural cures being suppressed?" appears to be more a question about human knowledge regarding natural cures, than one about the suppression of the truth about natural cures. This issue also involves the partial or total lack of medical knowledge about natural cures or the lack of appropriate and pertinent medical knowledge about natural cures, more than the actual suppression of truth.
- Written by T. Giski - Yes - While I do not think it is appropriate to use ONLY holistic methods, I do believe that that benefits of homeopathic remedies and holistic approaches (including diet and exercise) are grossly under-valued in today's culture. It is very true that some patients benefit greatly from certain medications, and provide them greater quality and quantity of life. However, many diseases can also be treated by a patient's change in lifestyle or habits, or a combination of holistic and pharmaceutical means.
- Written by Gwen Luobser - No - I think this debate begs the question that there is some ultimate truth about natural cures in the first place. It is true that many, so-called natural cures are under some serious attack. However, this is entirely besides the point of how effective any given natural cure is. For most natural cures, that is an unknown. There are unethical people in the pharmaceutical industry and unethical people selling snake oil. The whole argument that this supposed truth is being suppressed rest on the failure to admit that both of these things can be true, simultaneously.
- Written by M. L. Kiser - Yes - Of course the truth about natural cures is being suppressed and the FDA would prefer that it remained that way. After all, they are the ones who are permitting the deadly hormones, chemicals, preservatives, poisoned toxins and steroids into our foods, shampoos, water, laundry detergents, lotions and more. Illness and disease is a big business today. If the ever-skyrocketing cost of prescriptions and surgeries doesn't convince you than maybe the following will. Pharmaceuticals aren't nearly as expensive to produce, as the pharmaceutical companies would have us to believe.
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