Thoughts on Hippocratic Oath

It is interesting to know that our doctors have to take an oath before starting the profession. In fact, way before our time, doctors had to take an oath which was called the Hippocratic Oath. Doctors took this oath to let the world know that they will follow medical protocol and also ensure the good of mankind.

We were given two English translations of the Hippocratic Oath and two versions of the Declaration of Geneva, which was an oath that evolved from many of the ideas within the Hippocratic Oath.

Both versions of the Hippocratic Oath included some key issues that are very relevant in this day and age. Ideas which include; not giving deadly drugs to people, even upon request; not giving women abortive remedies; and also addressed doctor patient confidentiality, just to name a few. It's pretty remarkable that these points were very prominent back in the day. It's also pretty interesting that at the end of the oath, doctors are expected to have some sort of accountability. The end basically says, if a person should violate the path paved by the oath, they should have a bad life.

The Declaration of Geneva was a revision to the Hippocratic Oath. It was adopted by the Assembly of World Medical Association in 1948 and has been revised about 5 times since that time. This is the oath that modern medical professionals profess. The difference between this and the Hippocratic Oath is professionals aren't asked to swear upon some god or deity and there is no point of accountability. The calling upon a supreme being or deity is probably not in use because of the variety of religions worldwide. But, why is there no point of accountability on the doctor's?

By: Nnaemeka E. Unaegbu