The press coverage has abated somewhat for the seven physicians in the United Kingdom that were arrested for allegedly plotting terrorists acts that included exploding cars filled with bags of nails parked outside of crowded nightclubs.
Not included in any coverage that InsideSurgery reviewed was what exactly these physicians were doing in the days before the aborted plot that was intended to kill and maim hundreds of people? Were they performing surgery to help cure cancer, treating an exacerbation of multiple sclerosis, vaccinating a child against a serious disease, or providing some other healing art to minister to the sick and dying?
For our readers’ interest and perusal listed below is the text of the Hippocratic oath that every physician in the United States takes upon beginning medical practice:
I swear by Apollo the physician, by Aesculapius, Hygeia, and Panacea, and I take witness all the gods, all the goddesses, to keep according to my ability and my judgement the following Oath:
To consider dear to me as my parents him who taught me this art; to live in common with him and if neccessary to share my goods with him; to look upon his children as my own brothers, to teach them this art if they so desire without fee or written promise; to impart to my sons and the sons of the master who taught me and the disciples who have enrolled themselves and who have agreed to the rules of the profession, but that to these alone, the precepts and the instruction.
I will prescribe regimen for the good of patients according to my ability and my judgement and never do harm to anyone. To please no one will I prescribe a deadly drug, nor give advice which may cause his death. Nor will I give a woman a pessary to procure abortion.
But, I will preserve the purity of my life and my art. I will not cut for stone, even for patients for whom the disease is manifest; I will leave this operation to be performed by practitioners (specialists in this art).
In every house where I come I will enter only for the good of my patients, keeping myself far from all intentional ill-doing and all seduction, especially from the pleasures of love with women or with men, be they free or slaves.
All that may come to my knowledge in the exercise of my profession or in daily commerce with men, which ought not to be spread abroad, I will keep secret and never reveal
If I keep this oath faithfully, may I enjoy my life and practice my art, respected by all men and in all times; but if I swerve from it or violate it, may the reverse be my lot.
Copyright 2007 InsideSurgery.com