The End of the Hippocratic Oath ???

In this essay, Dr. Gary Kohls suggests that the Hippocratic Oath is being killed off by Big Medicine and Big Pharma:

http://dissidentvoice.org/2014/02/is-the-hippocratic-oath-being-killed-off-by-the-big-business-of-medicine/

The original oath was the following:

I swear by Apollo, the healer, Ascelepius, Hygieia and Panacea, I take to witness all the gods, all the goddesses, to keep according to my ability and my judgment, the following Oath and agreement:

To consider dear to me, as my parents, him who taught me this art; to live in common with him and, if necessary, to share my goods with him; To look upon his children as my own brothers, to teach them this art; and that by my teaching, I will impart a knowledge of this art to my own sons, and to my teacher’s sons, and to disciples bound by an indenture and oath according to the medical laws, and no others.

I will prescribe dietetic regimens for the good of my patients according to my ability and my judgment and never do harm to anyone.

I will give no deadly medicine to any one if asked, nor suggest any such counsel; and similarly I will not give a woman a pessary to cause an abortion,

But I will preserve the purity of my life and my arts.

I will not cut for stone [“cut for stone” means “to operate on bladder stones”], even for patients in whom the disease is manifest; I will leave this operation to be performed by practitioners, specialists in this area.

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 and especially from the pleasures of love with women or 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 will never reveal.

If I keep this oath faithfully, may I enjoy my life and practise my art, respected by all humanity and in all times; but if I swerve from it or violate it, may the reverse be my life.

In addition to what Dr. Kohls mentioned, take note that the part about abortions also is no longer followed. You may draw your own conclusions about that issue.

Oaths in general (this oath plus the oath specified by the US Constitution) seem to have little meaning in our culture, other than as a rite of passage signifying a personal achievement. We would all be better served if the oath takers truly believed in and followed them.