Hippocratic Oath Essay

The relationship between a doctor and his or her patient is one of secrecy, dependency, and honesty. Often, a physician is faced with judgements that may question his morals. Greek physician Hippocrates, also known as the father of medicine, created a list of principles in which many doctors live by today. The Hippocratic Oath is an oath of ethical standards in which physicians are expected to adhere to medical confidentiality, maintain integrity, and be held accountable for all judgements when providing treatment to a patient.
The Hippocratic Oath guides both new and experienced medical professionals throughout their career. Throughout the oath, ethical codes for medical teachers and students are explained. In the beginning of the oath, Hippocrates swears to pay the same respect to his “master in the Science” as to his parents. He also vows to teach his brothers in Science all that he knows free of charge or contract. In medicine, withholding knowledge may be disadvantageous to future professionals, current professionals, and patients. It may also result in the distrust of the person concealing the information. Hippocrates pledges to use his best judgement and ability when treating those who are sick. “I will abstain from
Some of those values include; the argument of pro-life vs pro-choice, the act of euthanasia, and advancements in medicine. Pro-life vs pro-choice is a debate of whether abortion should be legal. Those who stand for pro-life argue that abortion is immoral and against many religious views. As stated by Hippocrates, “Neither will I give a woman means to procure an abortion”. He believed that it was not the decision of the doctor nor woman to end the life of a child who has not yet been birthed. Pro-choice argues that a woman has the right of aborting a baby that she does not want. This debate challenges Hippocrates’s stance on