HIPPOCRATIC OATH Meaning and
Definition
-
The Hippocratic Oath refers to a solemn vow or pledge taken by physicians upon graduation from medical school, universally regarded as the ethical foundation of medical practice. Named after the ancient Greek physician Hippocrates, who is considered the father of Western medicine, this oath embodies the moral principles and professional responsibilities that physicians must uphold in their practice.
In essence, the Hippocratic Oath serves as a guide for medical professionals, emphasizing the importance of protecting and promoting the well-being of patients. It typically includes a commitment to patient confidentiality, maintaining professional boundaries, avoiding harm, and prioritizing patient care over personal gain. Physicians pledge to respect each patient's autonomy, treating them with dignity and without discrimination.
Moreover, the Hippocratic Oath serves as a reminder of the core values within medicine, such as honesty, integrity, and empathy. It emphasizes the duty to continually seek knowledge and improve medical skills to provide the best possible care for patients. Additionally, the oath often contains an implicit reminder to practice medicine ethically, avoiding procedures that may harm patients or violate their rights.
While the wording and specific content of the Hippocratic Oath can vary, reflecting cultural and societal changes, its fundamental principles remain constant. It serves as a symbolic contract between physician and society, ensuring that doctors' actions are guided by a commitment to the well-being of their patients and upholding the highest standards of medical professionalism.
-
An oath demanded of the young physician about to enter upon the practice of his profession, the composition of which is attributed to Hippocrates; in it the neophyte swears to esteem his preceptor as a parent and to share with him his livelihood, if necessary; to give no deadly drug and not to commit abortion, to keep inviolate the professional secret, not to seduce any member of a household where he is called to visit the sick, and not to cut for the stone, leaving such work to the surgeon.
A practical medical dictionary. By Stedman, Thomas Lathrop. Published 1920.
Common Misspellings for HIPPOCRATIC OATH
- gippocratic oath
- bippocratic oath
- nippocratic oath
- jippocratic oath
- uippocratic oath
- yippocratic oath
- huppocratic oath
- hjppocratic oath
- hkppocratic oath
- hoppocratic oath
- h9ppocratic oath
- h8ppocratic oath
- hiopocratic oath
- hilpocratic oath
- hi-pocratic oath
- hi0pocratic oath
- hipoocratic oath
- hiplocratic oath
- hip-ocratic oath
Etymology of HIPPOCRATIC OATH
The term "Hippocratic Oath" is derived from the Greek words "Hippokratous horkos" (Ἱπποκράτους ὅρκος). This phrase combines the Greek name "Hippokratous" (Ἱπποκράτους), derived from the name Hippocrates, who was an ancient Greek physician often recognized as the father of Western medicine, and the word "horkos" (ὅρκος), which means "oath" in Greek. Together, "Hippokratous horkos" translates to the "Oath of Hippocrates".
Infographic
Add the infographic to your website:
