An oath is still an oath

Many may not notice or know of there is an oath taken by doctor prior to practice medicine, western medicine in this case. It's call Hippocratic Oath, it's believed written by Hippocrates, the father of western medicine. It serves as a ethical, moral and profession code for physician (and surgeon, I believe) - medical students need to take this oath during their graduation, as it is still practice today, in many med schools. Yes, it's many, not all schools, and now it is not obligatory and taken by all physicians. There are a modern version of it written in 1964 by a US medical college dean and of course the classic or original version, 4th century BC.

I was struck when I was watching the begining of Pathology, where the oath is shown...read about it long time ago...but it become a refresher when I glanced at the lines on screen. And it even struck me further - in what kind of medical care/treatment/diagnosis some of us received from some doctors, hospitals, specialist centres... long waiting lines, astromical medical bill - cannot question nor ask for itemization, credit card/cash deposit upfront, medical insurance card, which company you work for, "...google it if you want to know about it...", "it's like that (damn, it sounds like car mechanic/technician)"...

ok, first thing first, do you think you get real diagnosis and given consultation to get better or better - how to prevent getting sick? it depends on one's luck. With all respect, there are still many good doctors around and caring medical institutions that not looking at if one has medical insurance card or under employment of a huge western corporation. I do still see doctor when/where necessary.

I personally find that, if I run out of luck, I may be just treated as a piece modular mechandise - each part of my body will be priced differently in the eyes of medical care provider. And based on personal experience and others' experience - most of the times, I do doubt I would be treated as a patient as described in the oath...I feel more like I am a paying customer who doesn't have an alternative...and sometimes the customer care is so bad and unreliable + unacceptable that I doubt I would be really cured - it could be worsen if I stay on it longer, and the care/treatment given is based on how much my insurance can cover. Or just to be safe, ask the physician to spell it out, again, of the oath - when one is not sure if he/she is really providing a professional care for one, with ethical basis. So help me/us God!

note: readings of the original and modern version (do check out the prevention is better than cure portion at the modern version)

.................original as translated into English (wikipedia)....................
“I swear by Apollo, 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.
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.”

..............Hippocratic Oath—Modern Version (from PBS).............

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.

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