Introduction
The selected primary source from ancient Greece is the Oath written by Hippocrates, one of history’s earliest legally enforceable documents. The historical document has long been regarded as the pinnacle of medical ethics (Indla and Radhika). Hippocrates’ followers had to take an oath to the Greek pantheon’s Gods of healing, such as Apollo, Asclepius, Hygeia, and Panacea, before they were allowed to learn medicine (Indla and Radhika). In the framework of medicine and law, the paper examines the Oath and emphasizes its significance to antiquity and modernity.
Summary of the Source
The Hippocrates Oath, one of the earliest legally binding texts in history, is still revered among medical professionals. It claims to offer the best care possible, protect a patient’s privacy, and pass on medical knowledge to the following generation (Marks). The Hippocratic Oath has many different iterations, but the traditional one, more specifically, one translation of the original Oath, has a profound significance. The text’s traditional form comes from Ludwig Edelstein’s translation of the Greek original (Marks). The document has created the overarching framework for medical ethics in the doctor-patient interaction, representing enduring moral principles that continue to underpin the practice of medicine (Askitopoulou and Vgontzas 1491). The core contemporary ethical precepts of beneficence, nonmaleficence, and secrecy have been represented through the Oath (Askitopoulou and Vgontzas 1491). Moreover, contrary to popular belief, its central message is not against surgery, euthanasia, or abortion but rather that patients’ best interests come first.
Historical Context
Notably, Hippocrates is one of the most well-known figures from antiquity and is frequently referred to as medicine’s founder. A physician named Hippocrates of Kos (460 BC – 370 BC) was born on the Ancient Greek island of Kos and practiced medicine (“Hippocrates”). He was raised at the time of Socrates and Plato, who frequently mentioned him in their writings (“Hippocrates”). Hippocrates completed his medical education in Greece and traveled to Egypt, where he personally observed the healing techniques credited to Imhotep (“Hippocrates”). Additionally, Hippocrates believed that treating the ill and curing them was vital, but he also believed that maintaining patient confidentiality and not abusing their trust was valuable.
The traditional Hippocratic Oath has undergone several changes since its inception. The Oath‘s complete text can be found as early as 300 CE (Aliouche). After its alleged origin, 1500 years later, its history is erratic (Aliouche). Askitopoulou and Vgontzas acknowledge that Scribonius Largus, a Roman physician, made the earliest reference to the Oath in the first century CE (1492). Consequently, a pledge was included among the actual writings of Hippocrates, according to Erotian, the Hippocratic lexicographer. The Oath was next mentioned by two Christian authors in the late fourth century CE (Askitopoulou and Vgontzas 1492). The first is Saint-Jerome, who asserted that Hippocrates required his followers to take an oath before commencing practice. The second is Saint Gregory of Nazianzus, who said that his brother, Caesarius, was so virtuous and righteous as a Christian while studying medicine in Alexandria that he did not need the Oath. Thus, the document was written to establish an ethical code and lifetime responsibilities to the medical profession.
Contents Analysis
The Oath is a reminder of the moral and ethical standards that have guided physicians’ obligations and responsibilities from antiquity to the present. Askitopoulou and Vgontzas state that the Oath, ‘Orkos’ in Greek, is a 250-word treatise that is concise, thorough, and implicitly structured (1492). Scholars have split it into parts and paragraphs so that specific arguments may be developed (Askitopoulou and Vgontzas 1492). For instance, the prayer to the gods of healing is included in the contents, followed by a covenant outlining the oath-obligations takers to the medical profession and society regarding the preservation and distribution of medical knowledge. The third section of the Oath is the ethical code, which includes general moral commands for the oath-taker to help the sick and abstain from immoral or harmful behavior (Askitopoulou and Vgontzas 1492). Hence, the benefits discussion of keeping the Oath or the penalties for breaking it is covered in the last section.
The Significance of the Hippocratic Oath in Ancient Greece and Nowadays
Because it outlined the physician’s potential rewards or penalties, the Oath was of great significance in ancient Greece. Askitopoulou and Vgontzas assert that physicians were cautioned that sadness, dishonor, and a bad reputation are waiting for them if they broke their commitments, breached the Oath, or committed perjury (1498). People believed that only the gods could bestow such a negative reputation and would only do so if the Oath was not kept (Askitopoulou and Vgontzas 1498). Due to the independence of the medical profession in ancient Greece, there were no legal repercussions for keeping erring doctors in control (Askitopoulou and Vgontzas 1498). Therefore, the Hippocratic Oath criticized the absence of government regulation of medicine in ancient Greece. The document established a distinct professional identity in this social setting and attitude.
Today’s medical communities still emphasize promises of devotion to teachers, colleagues, and the profession. Nevertheless, when the Oath was established in ancient Greece, there were no governmental medical laws, and doctors were not the well-respected experts they are today (Askitopoulou and Vgontzas 1498). Moreover, in terms of medical ethical norms, the medical profession has a long history of self-regulation dating back to the Hippocratic Oath. When they rely on the dedication of medical and dental experts, this tradition supports institutions and Supreme Courts (Askitopoulou and Vgontzas 1498). For instance, State and Supreme Courts frequently cite the Oath to impose civil and criminal penalties because of its unwavering and uncompromising reverence for life. In its unyielding and absolute regard for life, the text became a fundamental part of Western law on medical ethics and patients’ rights.
The Oath’s principles are unquestionably still applicable in the modern era of biological sciences, which have significant moral ramifications. The document still has significance for doctors today because it encompasses the values of beneficence, appreciation, privacy, and dignity (Indla and Radhika). The Oath’s interpretation may be applied to modern medical procedures that were not known to Hippocrates, whose understanding of medicine was founded on observation and logical deduction, such as medical research Courts (Askitopoulou and Vgontzas 1499). Additionally, the regulatory and ethical goals in human testing should be guided by the necessity of protecting the patient’s health, mind, and dignity. The text’s significance in modern society is a breakthrough since it establishes transgressions’ moral, social, and ethical consequences.
Conclusion
Concerning both antiquity and modernity, the Hippocratic Oath proved significant. Because there were no legal consequences for erring physicians in ancient Greece, I consider the Oath crucial in the development of medicine. The historical document helped develop a distinct professional identity and impacted contemporary society’s moral, social, and ethical values. The Oath’s uncompromising reverence for life became a cornerstone of Western legislation regarding patient rights and medical ethics.
Works Cited
“Hippocrates.” History-Bibliography, Web.
Aliouche, Hidaya. “What is the Hippocratic Oath?” News-Medical.Net, Web.
Askitopoulou, Helen, and Antonis N. Vgontzas. “The Relevance of the Hippocratic Oath to the Ethical and Moral Values of Contemporary Medicine. Part II: Interpretation of the Hippocratic Oath—Today’s Perspective.” European Spine Journal, vol. 27, no. 7, 2018, pp. 1491-1500.
Indla, Vishal, and M. S. Radhika. “Hippocratic Oath: Losing Relevance in Today’s World?” Indian Journal of Psychiatry, vol. 6, no. 4, 2019.
Marks, Jay W. “Medical Definition of Hippocratic Oath.” MedicineNet, Web.