Guiding Historical Documents

Last Modified: 19 Apr 2011

The Hippocratic Oath
December 2008 Revision, FSRG

I swear by Almighty God, Creator of Heaven and Earth and Creator of Man in His own image, making Him my witnesses, that I will carry out, that according to the ability and judgement given to me by the same, this oath and this indenture.

To regard my teacher in this art as equal to my father: to make him partner in my livelihood, and when he is in need of money, to share mine with him; to consider his offspring equal to my brothers; to teach them this art, if they require to learn it, without fee or indenture; and to impart precept, oral instruction, and all the other learning, to my sons, to the sons of my teacher, and to pupils who have signed the indenture and sworn obedience to the physician's Law, but to none other.

I will use treatment to help the sick according to my ability and judgement, but I will never use it to injure or wrong them. I will not give poison to anyone, though asked to do so, nor will I suggest such a plan. Similarly, I will not give prescriptions or treatments which produce an abortion to a woman, except in medically-required situations. But in purity and in holiness I will guard my life and my art and always seeking to promote a reverence for the Creator of Life.

Into whatsoever house I enter, I will do so to help the sick, keeping myself free from all intentional wrong-doing and harm, especially from fornication with woman or man, bond or free. Whatsoever in the course of practice I see or hear (or even outside my practice in social intercourse) that ought never to be published abroad, I will not divulge, but consider such things to be holy secrets.

Now if I keep this oath and break it not, may the Lord God grant me the power to enjoy honour, in my life and art, among all men for all time; but if I transgress and forswear myself, may the opposite befall me. Amen.