Hippocratic oath

[zyzz101]

So, I found this....
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hippocratic_Oath

Any comments or opinions on this oath? or should it be modified

[AbominableMowman]

I don't think anyone uses this particular version of the oath anymore, and I'm pretty sure the oath (if taken) when graduating from medical school differs between countries and schools. Also it's mostly ceremonial and does not oblige doctors to do anything, although of course it would be in the doctors' and their patients' best interests to act in an ethical manner.

[Professor Polonsky]

I don't know if the oath (or any form of the oath) is administered in Australia. The law relating to duty of care and professional obligations etc. regulates physicians, I believe.

[Russ]

As above, it's not actually something doctors take or recite when they graduate in Australia (and even if it was, it wouldn't bind them in any way when they practice). I would find it fairly trite to have to recite it on graduation, but ymmv.

In terms of it needing to be updated, it got updated for the modern world a few years back (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Declaration_of_Geneva) and that removes some of the stuff about euthanasia and abortion