Healer's Oath

[Hope]

Would anyone be interested in helping to create a healer's oath for Pern? Considering that allopathic doctors and veterinary doctors and osteopathic doctors all take one at graduation, I'm sure Pern would have one, too.

[Kris]

Sure. Do we want to base it on the Hippocratic Oath, or did you have something else in mind?

[Andrea]

I could probably type out my copy of the Osteopathic Oath for you as a reference, unless you can find it online somewhere. It's a tad different than the Hippocratic Oath.

[Chantal]

Andrea--Yes, I'd like to help develop this.

My favorite version is the Federation one that Diane Duane included in her novel, Doctor's Orders. It's beautiful.

[Hope]

OK, toss out the concepts you want to see in it, and if you can both find links to (or type in) the respective oaths, that would be cool.

I think the part about not using the position for sex or unlawful gain is pretty key, as is the whole confidentiality matter. The Hippocratic oath, by my shaky memory, specifically forbids poison...interesting thought how that applies to euthanasia/assisted suicide.

[Andrea]

This is the version of the Osteopathic Oath we used at my graduation:

I do hereby affirm my loyalty to the profession I am about to enter.

I will be mindful alays of my great responsibility to preserve the health and the lift of my patients, to retain their confidence and their respect both as a physician and friend who will guard their secrets with scrupulous honor and fidelity, to perform faithfully my professional duties, to employ only those recognized methods of treatment, consistent with good judgement, and with my skill and ability, keeping in mind always nature's laws and the body's inherent capacity for recovery.

I will be ever vigilant in aiding the general welfare of the community, sustaining its laws and insitutions, not engaging in those practicies hat will in any way bring shame or discredit upon myself or my profession. I will give no drugs for deadly purposes to any person, though it be asked of me.

I will endeador to work in accord with my colleagues in a spirit of positive cooperation, and never by word or by act cast imputations upon them their rightful practices.

I will look with respect and esteem upon all those who have taught me my art. To my college, I will be loyal and strive always for its best interest and for the interest of the students who come after me. I will be ever alert to further the application of the basic biologic truths to the healing arts and to develop the principles of osteopathic medicine that were first enunciated by Andrew Taylor Still.

In the presence of this gathering, I bind myself to my oath.

[Hope]

Andrea--I have to say, that's a fair bit more pertinent than quite a lot of the Hippocratic Oath!

So, do you two (and any other lurkers) prefer modern speech, or the older cadence of the Hippocratic Oath, or something a little between? Have they (Pernese healers) used the same oath for millenia?

Chantal, I'm looking forward to reading the Oath that you mentioned. It looks to me like the MD and DO oaths both look askance at mercy-killing, although that may be my own interpretation. What do others think?

[Hope]

For comparison:


Hippocratic Oath -- Classical Version

I swear by Apollo Physician and Asclepius and Hygieia and Panaceia and all the gods and goddesses, making them my witnesses, that I will fulfil according to my ability and judgment this oath and this covenant:

To hold him who has taught me this art as equal to my parents and to live my life in partnership with him, and if he is in need of money to give him a share of mine, and to regard his offspring as equal to my brothers in male lineage and to teach them this art - if they desire to learn it - without fee and covenant; to give a share of precepts and oral instruction and all the other learning to my sons and to the sons of him who has instructed me and to pupils who have signed the covenant and have taken an oath according to the medical law, but no one else.

I will apply dietetic measures for the benefit of the sick according to my ability and judgment; I will keep them from harm and injustice.

I will neither give a deadly drug to anybody who asked for it, nor will I make a suggestion to this effect. Similarly I will not give to a woman an abortive remedy. In purity and holiness I will guard my life and my art.

I will not use the knife, not even on sufferers from stone, but will withdraw in favor of such men as are engaged in this work.

Whatever houses I may visit, I will come for the benefit of the sick, remaining free of all intentional injustice, of all mischief and in particular of sexual relations with both female and male persons, be they free or slaves.

What I may see or hear in the course of the treatment or even outside of the treatment in regard to the life of men, which on no account one must spread abroad, I will keep to myself, holding such things shameful to be spoken about.

If I fulfil this oath and do not violate it, may it be granted to me to enjoy life and art, being honored with fame among all men for all time to come; if I transgress it and swear falsely, may the opposite of all this be my lot.

[Kris]

I would say let's keep to more modern language. I liked the Osteopathic Oath too.

[Andrea]

I'd say more modern language, but more involved like the classical Hippocratic Oath. I read in my googlings that few schools use the classic H.O. anymore due to its controversies and use more modern adaptations. I'm all for that.

[Hope]

So, any volunteers to write the first draft? ;>

[Hope]

Hmm...resounding silence.
I guess that means I get to write the rough draft.

[Andrea]

LOL Well, in the midst of writing IRB proposals this week... the healer's oath takes 2nd. As does everything else. Boo IRB proposals.

[Hope]

First Draft--Comments Welcome!




Healer’s Oath

By my name, my life, and my honor, I swear:
My fellow healers shall be to me as my parents and siblings, and I will share with them freely any knowledge of our craft that I discover. I will help them in their need, and will pass on our knowledge to whomever is fit and willing to abide by our laws, that the knowledge may be kept alive.

I will be mindful always of my great responsibility to preserve the health and the life of my patients, to retain their confidence and their respect both as a physician and friend who will guard their secrets with scrupulous honor and fidelity. I will perform faithfully my professional duties, employing recognized methods of treatment, consistent with both my judgement and with my skill and ability, keeping in mind always nature's laws and the body's inherent capacity for recovery. I will remember, always, that my first law is to do no harm.

I will remember my position in the community, and use it for good and not for personal gain. I will act for the health and wellbeing of my community, and no consideration will make me silent when I see a threat to them.

I will not be a poisoner, nor assist anyone in that pursuit. I will perform no procedure that is not for the good of my patient, nor will I do anything to a patient without their consent, save, in good faith, if they are unable to make consent due to physical or mental infirmities. I will not withhold comfort from a dying patient, whether such actions have an effect of speeding or delaying death. Except in gravest self defense, or defense of others, I will never use my knowledge to harm another.

Wherever I may go in my duties, I will come for the benefit of the sick, remaining free of all intentional injustice, of all mischief and in particular of sexual relations with both female and male persons. I will never demand nor accept payment of a sexual nature, nor ask more in payment than a household can afford.

In the presence of those assembled, I bind myself to this Oath, and will be, from now until death releases me, a Healer.

[Hope]

OK, any comments? My husband-who-still-is-not-on-the-boards thinks it's a little too long. I'll pay attention to his views when he's signed on as a member. ;>