On Tue, 26 Jul 2005 07:40:14 -0400 in alt.atheism, Reel Mckoi (Reel
Mckoi ) said, directing the reply to alt.atheism



Answer:

One doctor said: “If there are a few doctors who seem to do more, it’s
because some of us are still struggling with our Hippocratic (oath).”
Concerning abortion the oath states: “I will give no deadly medicine to
any one if asked nor suggest any such counsel, and in like manner I will
not give to a woman a pessary to produce abortion.”

Classical Version:

Swearing by Apollo Physician and Asclepius and Hygieia and Panaceia
and all the gods and goddesses!!! I hope our Christian friends will be
maounting a campaign to ban this evil oath ASAP....!!!

text

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.