Monday, June 8, 2009
i was reading this book by Linda Howard, about a female physician in the late 70s, who was abducted by an outlaw so that she could heal his wounds, after which they developed love for each other. their love wasnt the main point. something else struck me.
i couldnt remember the exact quote. but it's about the hippocratic oath, that physicians do not judge the worth of an ill human being before giving him the benefit of their knowledge and skills. which means that even if the person was a wanted man, a doctor is bound by this oath to heal him. so i was kind of wondering.. whether i would heal someone like that. i mean i was fantasizing. not that i will ever had such a chance. perhaps my medical friends can think about this. yeh.. perhaps i would. perhaps i wouldn't. i guess i am principled enough. but things will change, when laws come in place, and i might face a criminal charge for helping a criminal. i guess? hmm..
anyway, i looked up on the hippocratic oath. and wiki gave this:
"I swear by Apollo, the healer, 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 and agreement:
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."
hmm. i dun really understand the cut for stone section.. but that's the olden days version.. where physicians weren't allowed to practise surgery and euthanasia, pain relief etc were strictly against. the modern one is altered a little to fit into today's society..
1. To teach medicine to the sons of my teacher. In the past, medical schools gave preferential consideration to the children of physicians.[citation needed]
2. To practice and prescribe to the best of my ability for the good of my patients, and to try to avoid harming them. This beneficial intention is the purpose of the physician. However, this item is still invoked in the modern discussions of euthanasia.
3. I will not give a lethal drug to anyone if I am asked, nor will I advise such a plan. Physician organizations in most countries have strongly denounced physician participation in legal executions. However, in a small number of cases, most notably the U.S. states of Oregon,[5] Washington,[6] Montana,[7] and in the Kingdom of the Netherlands,[8] a doctor can prescribe euthanasia with the patient's consent.
4. To avoid violating the morals of my community. Many licensing agencies will revoke a physician's license for offending the morals of the community ("moral turpitude").
5. 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. The "stones" referred to are kidney stones or bladder stones, removal of which was judged too menial for physicians, and therefore was left for barbers (the forerunners of modern surgeons). Surgery was not recognized as a specialty at that time. This sentence is now interpreted as acknowledging that it is impossible for any single physician to maintain expertise in all areas. It also highlights the different historical origins of the surgeon and the physician.
6. To keep the good of the patient as the highest priority. There may be other conflicting 'good purposes,' such as community welfare, conserving economic resources, supporting the criminal justice system, or simply making money for the physician or his employer that provide recurring challenges to physicians.
this version's more complete i guess. Oath link
there is a suggestion for a hippocratic oath for scientists too.. interesting.
i couldnt remember the exact quote. but it's about the hippocratic oath, that physicians do not judge the worth of an ill human being before giving him the benefit of their knowledge and skills. which means that even if the person was a wanted man, a doctor is bound by this oath to heal him. so i was kind of wondering.. whether i would heal someone like that. i mean i was fantasizing. not that i will ever had such a chance. perhaps my medical friends can think about this. yeh.. perhaps i would. perhaps i wouldn't. i guess i am principled enough. but things will change, when laws come in place, and i might face a criminal charge for helping a criminal. i guess? hmm..
anyway, i looked up on the hippocratic oath. and wiki gave this:
"I swear by Apollo, the healer, 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 and agreement:
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."
hmm. i dun really understand the cut for stone section.. but that's the olden days version.. where physicians weren't allowed to practise surgery and euthanasia, pain relief etc were strictly against. the modern one is altered a little to fit into today's society..
1. To teach medicine to the sons of my teacher. In the past, medical schools gave preferential consideration to the children of physicians.[citation needed]
2. To practice and prescribe to the best of my ability for the good of my patients, and to try to avoid harming them. This beneficial intention is the purpose of the physician. However, this item is still invoked in the modern discussions of euthanasia.
3. I will not give a lethal drug to anyone if I am asked, nor will I advise such a plan. Physician organizations in most countries have strongly denounced physician participation in legal executions. However, in a small number of cases, most notably the U.S. states of Oregon,[5] Washington,[6] Montana,[7] and in the Kingdom of the Netherlands,[8] a doctor can prescribe euthanasia with the patient's consent.
4. To avoid violating the morals of my community. Many licensing agencies will revoke a physician's license for offending the morals of the community ("moral turpitude").
5. 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. The "stones" referred to are kidney stones or bladder stones, removal of which was judged too menial for physicians, and therefore was left for barbers (the forerunners of modern surgeons). Surgery was not recognized as a specialty at that time. This sentence is now interpreted as acknowledging that it is impossible for any single physician to maintain expertise in all areas. It also highlights the different historical origins of the surgeon and the physician.
6. To keep the good of the patient as the highest priority. There may be other conflicting 'good purposes,' such as community welfare, conserving economic resources, supporting the criminal justice system, or simply making money for the physician or his employer that provide recurring challenges to physicians.
this version's more complete i guess. Oath link
there is a suggestion for a hippocratic oath for scientists too.. interesting.
9:53 AM
