The Oath of Hippocrates

Summary

In a celebratory ceremony, the School of Medicine graduates recite the Hippocratic Oath, a timeless moral code for physicians dating back to ancient Greece. The oath, traditionally attributed to Hippocrates, emphasizes commitment to patients, the profession, and ethical practice. As they pledge, the graduates promise to uphold these principles, seeking happiness and good repute through fidelity to their medical duties.

Takeaways

• 🎓 The event is a commencement ceremony for the School of Medicine graduates.
• 📜 The Hippocratic Oath is a traditional recitation for medical graduates, symbolizing a moral code for physicians.
• 🗓 Hippocrates, known as the father of medicine, was born in 460 BCE on the Greek Island of Kos, but it's uncertain if he wrote the oath himself.
• 🌟 The oath has been recited for over two centuries, emphasizing its timeless importance in the medical profession.
• 🗣️ Reciting the oath is a commitment to patients, the profession, and oneself as a physician.
• 🏥 The oath is recited in a house entered for the good of the sick, highlighting the altruistic nature of the medical profession.
• 🚫 It prohibits the use of harmful drugs or operations without justifiable purpose, emphasizing the ethical practice of medicine.
• 🤐 The oath includes a promise of confidentiality regarding anything seen or heard that should not be spoken, respecting patient privacy.
• 🏅 The recitation of the oath is a promise of happiness and good repute if faithfully upheld, and the opposite if broken.
• 🤝 The recitation is a collective act, with the graduates repeating each phrase after the leader, showing unity and solidarity.
• 🎉 The ceremony concludes with congratulations to the new Doctors of Medicine, marking the beginning of their professional journey.

Q & A

What is the significance of reciting the Hippocratic Oath during medical school graduation ceremonies?

The Hippocratic Oath is a timeless and poetic statement that serves as a moral code for physicians, symbolizing the commitment to patients, the profession, and the physician's own integrity.

Who is traditionally regarded as the father of medicine, and where was he born?

Hippocrates is traditionally regarded as the father of medicine, and he was born on the Greek Island of Kos in 460 BCE.

Is it known for certain that Hippocrates himself wrote the Hippocratic Oath?

It is unclear whether the Hippocratic Oath was written by Hippocrates himself or by his followers; it dates back to the era of antiquity.

What does the recitation of the Hippocratic Oath affirm for the new medical school graduates?

The recitation of the Hippocratic Oath affirms the new graduates' unwavering commitment to their patients, their profession, and themselves as physicians.

What is the purpose of the phrase 'That I will be fully committed to those I serve' in the Hippocratic Oath?

This phrase emphasizes the physician's dedication to serving their patients with full commitment and loyalty.

What does the Hippocratic Oath suggest about the physician's approach to their profession and the art of medicine?

The oath suggests that the physician should lead their life and practice their art with brightness and honor, upholding high ethical standards.

What is the implication of the phrase 'That into whatsoever house I shall enter... It shall be for the good of the sick'?

This phrase implies that the physician's primary motivation for entering any patient's home should be the well-being and treatment of the sick.

What is the physician's commitment regarding the use of drugs and performing operations in the Hippocratic Oath?

The physician commits to using drugs and performing operations only when there is a justifiable purpose and will not suggest them without proper reason.

What does the oath say about the physician's responsibility regarding confidentiality?

The physician promises to keep inviolably secret whatever they see or hear in the lives of men and women that is not fitting to be spoken, upholding patient confidentiality.

What is the final promise made by the physician in the Hippocratic Oath?

The final promise is that the physician will be faithful to the oath, with the understanding that their happiness and good repute are proportionate to their fidelity to the oath.

What is the closing statement for the new Doctors of Medicine after reciting the Hippocratic Oath?

The closing statement is a congratulatory message, acknowledging the new graduates as Doctors of Medicine, emphasizing the beginning of their journey in the medical profession.