Defining a Doctor and a Patient
Segment #448
In simpler times the doctor patient relationship was defined by the Hippocratic oath but limited by technology. We have now lost our way and our original mandates blurred with hospitals and our government dictating treatment protocols and banning anything not endorsed by the bureaucracy. This fight is worth fighting and we must demand that our doctors be teachers enlightening their patients as students eager to learn and not just a victim to suffer and endure.
Part One: The Hippocratic Oath
The Hippocratic Oath is one of the most enduring and widely known texts in medical ethics, historically attributed to the ancient Greek physician Hippocrates, often called the "father of Western medicine." While Hippocrates himself may not have authored it, the Oath is a foundational document that outlines ethical standards and professional conduct for physicians.
Core Principles and Original Content:
The original Hippocratic Oath, dating back to around the 5th century BCE, requires a new physician to swear upon a number of healing gods (such as Apollo, Asclepius, Hygieia, and Panacea) to uphold certain professional and ethical standards. Key principles found in the classic version include:
Loyalty to Teachers: A strong commitment to one's teacher in medicine, treating them like parents and sharing knowledge with their offspring.
Beneficence and Non-maleficence: The commitment to use treatments for the benefit of the sick and to "do no harm or injustice." It's important to note that the widely quoted phrase "First, do no harm" is not explicitly in the original Oath, though the concept is present.
Prohibition of Certain Practices: The original Oath specifically forbade administering a deadly drug, causing abortion, and "using the knife" (i.e., performing surgery, which was a separate craft at the time).
Confidentiality: The pledge to keep secret whatever is seen or heard in the lives of patients that should not be spoken of outside.
Purity and Holiness: A commitment to live and practice the art of medicine "in purity and according to divine law."
Modern Relevance and Evolution:
Over centuries, the Hippocratic Oath has been rewritten and adapted to reflect changing societal values, medical advancements, and ethical considerations. While not legally binding, it remains a powerful symbol of the medical profession's commitment to ethical conduct and is often recited at medical school graduation ceremonies.
Modern versions, such as the Declaration of Geneva (adopted by the World Medical Association in 1948 and updated periodically) and the Oath of Lasagna (written by Louis Lasagna in 1964), have replaced many of the archaic references and prohibitions with more contemporary principles. These modern adaptations typically emphasize:
Patient Autonomy: Respecting the patient's right to make decisions about their own care.
Human Rights and Dignity: A commitment not to permit considerations of age, disease, creed, origin, gender, or any other factor to intervene between duty and patient.
Shared Knowledge: The importance of sharing medical knowledge for the benefit of the patient and the advancement of healthcare.
Self-Care: The understanding that physicians must also attend to their own health and well-being.
Broader Scope of Practice: Acknowledging the role of preventive medicine, not just "sick care," and the impact of technology in healthcare.
While some elements of the original Oath, like the pledge to pagan deities or the prohibition on surgery, are no longer relevant, the core values of patient well-being, confidentiality, professional integrity, and a dedication to the art of healing continue to form the ethical foundation of medicine. The Hippocratic Oath, in its various forms, serves as a moral compass guiding physicians in their complex and evolving profession.
Part Two: What is a Doctor
The word "doctor" comes from the Latin word "doctor" (same spelling), which means "teacher."
This Latin word, in turn, is derived from the verb "docēre," meaning "to teach" or "to show."
Historically, the title "doctor" was first used in the Middle Ages to refer to eminent scholars and teachers, particularly in fields like theology, law, and later, medicine. It signified someone who had achieved the highest academic degree and was qualified to teach. The specific application to medical professionals became more common in the 17th century.
Part Three: What is a Patient
The word "patient" comes from the Latin word "patiens," which is the present participle of the verb "patior."
"Patior" in Latin means "to suffer," "to endure," or "to bear."
So, a "patient" is literally "one who suffers" or "one who endures." This etymology highlights the historical understanding of the role of a person seeking medical care as someone undergoing suffering or hardship.