THE OATH OF HIPPOCRATES

I swear, by Apollo the healer and Asklepios and Hygeia (Health)and Panaceia and all gods and goddesses, making them witnesses, to fulfill according to my ability and my discernment this oath and this covenant to consider him who taught me this skill as equal to my own parents, and to share with him my livelihood, and to make a contribution to him when he is in need of a debt, and to judge his offspring as equal to my brothers in male lineage, and to teach this skill if they need to learn it, without profit and without legal covenant; to make a contribution of instruction and of what I have heard and of all other learning to my own sons and to the sons of him who taught me and to learners who have been indentured and who have also sworn by the law appropriate to healing but to no other. I will use dietetic measures for the benefit of the sick according to my ability and my discernment and I will keep them from harm and injustice. I will not give a deadly drug not to anyone, when asked, nor will I suggest any such counsel; similarly I will not give an abortifacient pessary to a woman. In a pure way and in a holy way I will conduct my life and my skill. I will not cut those labouring with stones but I will give way to those who are practitioners of this work. Into whatsoever houses I might go, I will enter for the benefit of the sick, being free from every voluntary act of mischief and corruption, especially, abstaining from deeds appropriate to Aphrodite on the bodies of women and of men, free or slave. And what I might see or hear during treatment or even apart from treatment, regarding the life of men, which it is not ever necessary to divulge outside, I will be silent about, considering such things to be unutterable. And so may it be granted to me in fulfilling this oath and not violating it that I enjoy the benefits of my life and the practice of my skill and be honored by all men for time eternal; but  should I transgress and falsely swear, my the opposite of these things be my lot.

The Latin translation by JANUS CORNARIUS, 1546  can be requested at the Dean of Students’ Affairs office.

Hippocratic Oath - Modern version:

I swear to fulfill, to the best of my ability and judgment, this covenant:

I will respect the hard-won scientific gains of those physicians in whose steps I walk, and gladly share such knowledge as is mine with those who are to follow.

I will apply, for the benefit of the sick, all measures [that] are required, avoiding those twin traps of overtreatment and therapeutic nihilism.

I will remember that there is art to medicine as well as science, and that warmth, sympathy, and understanding may outweigh the surgeon's knife or the chemist's drug.

I will not be ashamed to say "I know not," nor will I fail to call in my colleagues when the skills of another are needed for a patient's recovery.

I will respect the privacy of my patients, for their problems are not disclosed to me that the world may know. Most especially must I tread with care in matters of life and death. If it is given me to save a life, all thanks. But it may also be within my power to take a life; this awesome responsibility must be faced with great humbleness and awareness of my own frailty. Above all, I must not play at God.

I will remember that I do not treat a fever chart, a cancerous growth, but a sick human being, whose illness may affect the person's family and economic stability. My responsibility includes these related problems, if I am to care adequately for the sick.

I will prevent disease whenever I can, for prevention is preferable to cure.

I will remember that I remain a member of society, with special obligations to all my fellow human beings, those sound of mind and body as well as the infirm.

If I do not violate this oath, may I enjoy life and art, respected while I live and remembered with affection thereafter. May I always act so as to preserve the finest traditions of my calling and may I long experience the joy of healing those who seek my help.

Written in 1964 by Louis Lasagna, Academic Dean of the School of Medicine at Tufts University, and used in many medical schools today.

DECLARATION OF GENEVA

Adopted by the 2nd General Assembly of the World Medical Association, Geneva, Switzerland, September 1948 and amended by the 22nd World Medical Assembly, Sydney, Australia, August 1968 and the 35th World Medical Assembly, Venice, Italy, October 1983 and the 46th WMA General Assembly, Stockholm, Sweden, September 1994 and editorially revised at the 170th Council Session, Divonne-les-Bains, France, May 2005 and the 173rd Council Session, Divonne-les-Bains, France, May 2006

AT THE TIME OF BEING ADMITTED AS A MEMBER OF THE MEDICAL PROFESSION:
I SOLEMNLY PLEDGE to consecrate my life to the service of humanity;
I WILL GIVE to my teachers the respect and gratitude that is their due;
I WILL PRACTISE my profession with conscience and dignity;
THE HEALTH OF MY PATIENT will be my first consideration;
I WILL RESPECT the secrets that are confided in me, even after the patient has died;
I WILL MAINTAIN by all the means in my power, the honour and the noble traditions of the medical profession;
MY COLLEAGUES will be my sisters and brothers;
I WILL NOT PERMIT considerations of age, disease or disability, creed, ethnic origin, gender, nationality, political affiliation, race, sexual orientation, social standing or any other factor to intervene between my duty and my patient;
I WILL MAINTAIN the utmost respect for human life;
I WILL NOT USE my medical knowledge to violate human rights and civil liberties, even under threat;
I MAKE THESE PROMISES solemnly, freely and upon my honour.