Hippocratic Oath Essay

In ancient Greek society, many lived under a divine law that provided them with ethical and moral guidance; however, this clashes with the numerous social changes that formed today’s modern society. Physicians that took the Oath in Ancient Greece were sworn to follow a pledge that was relevant to the ancient belief in multiple Gods. When physicians took this Oath, they were swearing to the healing Gods that they would treat the ill to the best of their own ability, teach medicine to future generations, preserve patient confidentiality and heal in a way that was morally sound. The Oath begins with a promise to the Greek Gods and Goddesses that any future physician will conserve the Oath and that a mutual respect would be present when talking …show more content…
In fact, until the late 1960’s, many physicians made house calls instead of seeing the patient in a hospital setting. This is why the Hippocratic Oath includes the idea that any physician who enters a home must enter strictly with the intent to benefit the ill and refrain from any dishonorable actions, including seduction, to the houses residents. Going to patients’ homes made it easier to honor the patients’ privacy outside of a hospital room. Physicians were, and still are, under strict regulation to maintain doctor-patient confidentiality unless the patient is a harm to others or has broken the law. Considering that society and common law has changed, the Hippocratic Oath has been rewritten several times in order to better fit the needs of current physicians. Though, some ideas have been removed or updated, the main idea that a physician should never intentionally harm a patient, remains the same. Physicians are still expected to practice medicine ethically and sans malice. In ancient times, physicians had to answer to any number of Gods, but today’s physician must answer to the law. Should they “transgress this Oath and violate it,”(Original Hippocratic Oath) they’re fates are to be determined by