Source edition
Hippocrates. Oeuvres complètes d'Hippocrate, Vol. 4. Littré, Émile, editor. Paris: Baillière, 1844
Source data
A Digital Corpus for Graeco-Arabic Studies · CC BY-SA 4.0
Cloned and adapted by Humanitext, with ongoing edits.
Summary
This work is a solemn oath outlining the ethical standards and professional duties that medical practitioners must uphold. Written as a vow addressed to the deities of medicine, such as Apollo and Asclepius, it establishes a rigorous code of conduct for the medical profession. The first part of the oath defines the sacred bond between teacher and student, requiring the practitioner to treat their teacher like a parent and to instruct the teacher's children without fee. The second part details specific ethical guidelines for daily medical practice. It demands that physicians do no harm to patients, refuse to administer poisons or abortive remedies, maintain purity in their conduct when visiting patients' homes, and strictly preserve patient confidentiality. The text concludes with a declaration that those who keep this oath may enjoy life and the practice of their art with honor, while those who violate it shall suffer the opposite fate.
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