“I swear by Apollo the physician, and by Asclepius, Hygieia, and Panakeia, and invoking all the gods and goddesses as witnesses, that to the best of my ability and according to my judgment I will fulfill this oath and this contract.”
Thus the first lines of the Hippocratic Oath, considered the foundation of medical ethics. Apparently, however, this oath was not penned by Hippocrates. The oath forbids physicians to perform abortions, euthanasia and surgical interventions. Further physicians vowed with the oath formula that you keep everything heard and seen secret (obligation to secrecy). In the meantime, the oath, also known as the oath of Asclepiad, has been replaced by the oath of physicians.
Who was Hippocrates?
The Greek physician Hippocrates, born around 460 BC on the island of Kos, was descended from the noble Asclepiad family, which noted as ancestors the god of healing Asclepius. This was also called Asclepius – his symbol, the staff entwined with a snake, is still considered a sign of the healing profession today. At a young age Hippocrates learned his trade from his father Herakleidas. As a physician he moved around and deepened his knowledge on his travels. Already during his lifetime Hippocrates was famous and appreciated. Later he probably lived in Larissa, Cyprus, where he is said to have died around 370 BC.
Hippocrates is considered the founder of modern medicine. He did not blame the gods for the course of diseases, but emphasized the importance of rational treatment by the physician, who gathers his experience based on observations and descriptions of the symptoms of disease.
By the way…
If Hippocrates’ oath were still in effect today, medical students would be indebted to their professors for life, for a clause in the oath reads, “The teacher who instructed me in this art I will respect as my parents, share my life in fellowship with him, and provide for him when he is in need. His descendants I will hold as brothers and teach them this lore without remuneration or contract, if they ask for it.”
