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Reflections of the Hippocratic Oath in Modern Medicine

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Abstract

Hippocratic Oath indicates a prevailing ethos rather than a professional approach, and it is still regarded as the cornerstone and foundation of the medical profession. Medicine in Ancient Greece was strongly influenced by the values of classical philosophy as introduced by its main representatives: Plato and Aristotle. Hippocrates himself has been recognized not only as a pioneering physician, but also as an outstanding philosopher. In his writings, he claimed that “the physician must insert wisdom in medicine” and denounced the technocratic aspect of the medical profession. The Hippocratic Oath constitutes a synopsis of the moral code of Ancient Greek medicine and contributes to the stabilization of the tri-part relationship among the physician, the patient, and the illness, as described by Hippocrates. The harmony of this interactive triangle has been deranged by several factors, such as technological evolution, public media, and cost-effective modalities with multiple consequences. In these terms, the reevaluation of the Hippocratic Oath and its time-enduring messages seems essential to reinstate the relationship between the physician and the patient under a new philosophico-medical prism.

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Acknowledgments

The authors highly appreciate the critical suggestions for revision of the manuscript provided by Mr. John H. Wolfe, as well as the linguistic assistance provided by Mr. Thomas Chatzidavaris.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of General and Visceral Surgery, Hospital “Maria v. d. Aposteln” Neuwerk, Mönchengladbach, Germany

    Stavros A. Antoniou & Frank A. Granderath

  2. Regional Vascular Unit, St Mary’s Hospital, Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust, London, UK

    George A. Antoniou

  3. Department of Bioethics and Deontology, University of Thessaly Medical School, Larissa, Greece

    Anna Mavroforou

  4. Department of Vascular Surgery, University Hospital of Larissa, University of Thessaly Medical School, Larissa, Greece

    Athanasios D. Giannoukas

  5. Department of History and Ethnology, Democritus University of Thrace, Alexandroupolis, Greece

    Athanasios I. Antoniou

  6. Professor Emeritus of Ancient History, Souniou 11, 19001, Keratea Attikis, Athens, Greece

    Athanasios I. Antoniou

Authors
  1. Stavros A. Antoniou
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  2. George A. Antoniou
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  3. Frank A. Granderath
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  4. Anna Mavroforou
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  5. Athanasios D. Giannoukas
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  6. Athanasios I. Antoniou
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Athanasios I. Antoniou.

Additional information

The translation of the Hippocratic Oath used in this review is taken from Edelstein L (1943) The Hippocratic Oath: text, translation, and interpretation, Baltimore, Johns Hopkins Press.

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Antoniou, S.A., Antoniou, G.A., Granderath, F.A. et al. Reflections of the Hippocratic Oath in Modern Medicine. World J Surg 34, 3075–3079 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00268-010-0604-3

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00268-010-0604-3

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