Well, thats interesting...

[Dan Gurden]

I was performing a little research into the Hippocratic Oath, in order to give players of medical personnel an opportunity to see what it is they are sworn too...

So I did a little research and found a translation of the original Oath of Hippocrates;
http://www.humanities.ccny.cuny.edu/...r/hippoath.htm

However, I suspected that this was not the modern version of the Oath, and so performed a little more research... Eventually finding this interesting site;
http://www.imagerynet.com/hippo.ama.html

So, from the looks of it, there is a good chance that the Hippocratic Oath sworn by Starfleet Medical personnel is likely to have been revised again, after all, the legal and spiritual aspects of the ancient and modern oaths are no longer as relevant in the Star Trek era.

I plan on re-writing the Oath with a Star Trek view, and will post it here, but am interested in any opinions or ideas that anyone may have in this project?

------------------
Dan.

"Hi, I'm Commander Troy McClure, you might remember me from other academy training holo-simulations as, Abandon Ship, the quickest way out, and I sense danger, 101 things you dont need a Betazoid to know..."

http://www.theventure.freeserve.co.uk

[Capt.Hunter]

From the limited number of medical-oriented episodes in Trek (at least until the Holodoc came along and before Seven edged him out), the most-quoted part of the Oath seems to be the bit about "Do no harm". The moral edge of the Oath still appears to be intact, so I'd just remove the mystical bits.

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"Spatial anomalies, energy beings, telepathic echoes. You know, sometimes I really miss the Dominion War. At least then all we had to worry about was where the next polaron beam was coming from...": Capt.Hunter, USS Tempest

[calguard66]

Another thing to think about is the influence of other cultures.

For example, Andorian physicians are swon not to use the medical arts to cause harm. There is nothing against using the martial arts to do so.

------------------
"I'd rather die standing than live on my knees..."
Shania Twain

[Dan Gurden]

Well. I found that the more modern version suited very well with a simple tweak of the odd word here and there. Thus I would like to present;

The Federation Standard
Hippocratic Oath
(used by Starfleet and within the Federation)

The practice of medicine is a privilege which carries important responsibilities. All doctors should observe the core values of the profession which centre on the duty to help sick people and to do no harm. I promise that my medical knowledge will be used only to benefit people's health, and not to injure or harm them. They are my first concern. I will listen to them and provide the best care I can. I will be honest, respectful and compassionate towards patients.

I vow to help those in need, and respond to emergencies with calm eficiency to ensure the best of treatment of those in my care.

I will make every effort to ensure that the rights of all patients are respected, including vulnerable groups who lack means of making their needs known, be it through immaturity, mental incapacity, imprisonment or detention or other circumstance.

My professional judgement will be exercised as independently as possible and not be influenced by political pressures nor by factors such as the social standing of the patient. I will not put personal profit or advancement above my duty to patients.

I recognise the special value of all life but I also know that the prolongation of life is not the only aim of healthcare. I will not provide treatments which are pointless or harmful or which an informed and competent patient refuses.

I will ensure patients receive the information and support they want to make decisions about disease prevention and improvement of their health. I will answer truthfully, and respect patients' decisions unless that puts others at risk of harm. If I cannot agree with their requests, I will explain why.

If my patients have limited mental awareness, I will still encourage them to participate in decisions as much as they feel able and willing to do so.

I will do my best to maintain confidentiality about all patients. If there are overriding reasons which prevent my keeping a patient's confidentiality I will explain them.

I will recognise the limits of my knowledge and seek advice from colleagues when necessary. I will acknowledge my mistakes. I will do my best to keep myself and colleagues informed of new developments and ensure that poor standards or bad practices are exposed to those who can improve them.

I will show respect for all those with whom I work and be ready to share my knowledge by teaching others what I know.

I will use my training and professional standing to improve the community in which I work. I will treat patients equitably and support a fair and humane distribution of health resources. I will try to influence positively authorities whose policies harm public health. I will oppose policies which breach internationally accepted standards of human rights. I will strive to change laws which are contrary to patients' interests or to my professional ethics.

Slightly edited with Lancers suggestions...

[Lancer]

Originally posted by Dan Gurden
In emergencies, I will do my best to help anyone in medical need.

Personaly I would emphasize this point a little more, maybe by giving it it's own paragraph in the oath.
And the "In emergencies" sounds a bit restrictive. IMHO it should be emphasized more clearly, that helping those in need is the primary duty of the medic, and not just something that comes in effect in emergencies. Maybe you should just leave out "In emergencies".

I will do my best to maintain confidentiality about all patients. If there are overriding reasons which prevent my keeping a patient's confidentiality I will explain them.

I suggest you add "to the patient" at the end of the sentence to clarify this.
And "I will do my best" sounds a little too soft IMHO. This is an important part of todays medical practice and I don't think it will change so much over the next 3 or 4 centuries. Just "I will maintain..." might be a better way of putting it.

If you want to hand out this oath to your players it couldn't hurt to work out a few bits and pieces of Starfleet Regulations that clarify for the players under what circumstances a doctor is allowed to go against this vow of confidentiality.


Otherwise it looks fine to me at a first glance.

[Robbert Raets]

From a to-be-doctor-in-ten-years:

It looks good. It sounds good. I like it very much.

From the Trekkie:

Especially with your Venture-banner under it

[Dan Gurden]

Originally posted by Dan Gurden
Well. I found that the more modern version suited very well with a simple tweak of the odd word here and there. Thus I would like to present;

The Federation Standard
Hippocratic Oath
(used by Starfleet and within the Federation)

The practice of medicine is a privilege which carries important responsibilities. All doctors should observe the core values of the profession which centre on the duty to help sick people and to do no harm. I promise that my medical knowledge will be used only to benefit people's health, and not to injure or harm them. They are my first concern. I will listen to them and provide the best care I can. I will be honest, respectful and compassionate towards patients.

I vow to help those in need, and respond to emergencies with calm eficiency to ensure the best of treatment of those in my care.

I will make every effort to ensure that the rights of all patients are respected, including vulnerable groups who lack means of making their needs known, be it through immaturity, mental incapacity, imprisonment or detention or other circumstance.

My professional judgement will be exercised as independently as possible and not be influenced by political pressures nor by factors such as the social standing of the patient. I will not put personal profit or advancement above my duty to patients.

I recognise the special value of all life but I also know that the prolongation of life is not the only aim of healthcare. I will not provide treatments which are pointless or harmful or which an informed and competent patient refuses.

I will ensure patients receive the information and support they want to make decisions about disease prevention and improvement of their health. I will answer truthfully, and respect patients' decisions unless that puts others at risk of harm. If I cannot agree with their requests, I will explain why.

If my patients have limited mental awareness, I will still encourage them to participate in decisions as much as they feel able and willing to do so.

I will maintain confidentiality about all patients. If there are overriding reasons which prevent my keeping a patient's confidentiality I will explain them to the patient.

I will recognise the limits of my knowledge and seek advice from colleagues when necessary. I will acknowledge my mistakes. I will do my best to keep myself and colleagues informed of new developments and ensure that poor standards or bad practices are exposed to those who can improve them.

I will show respect for all those with whom I work and be ready to share my knowledge by teaching others what I know.

I will use my training and professional standing to improve the community in which I work. I will treat patients equitably and support a fair and humane distribution of health resources. I will try to influence positively authorities whose policies harm public health. I will oppose policies which breach internationally accepted standards of human rights. I will strive to change laws which are contrary to patients' interests or to my professional ethics.

Slightly edited with Lancers suggestions...

[Dan Gurden]

Glad you liked it. I made some alterations at Lancers suggestion, and hope this will be invaluable to medical characters in other Trek Games...

At least you can now supply the 'Hipocratic Oath' code of honour.

[Phantom]

There was an episode of Voyager where the Doc recites part of the Oath, it was very close to the one used today..."I swear by Apollo the healer.." and so forth.

[Dan Gurden]

Originally posted by Phantom
There was an episode of Voyager where the Doc recites part of the Oath, it was very close to the one used today..."I swear by Apollo the healer.." and so forth.

Oddly my research came up with about 3-4 different versions in current use... Only one of which used that sentence... But if you can dig out the episode I will check it out... Cheers.

[Phantom]

I think it was at the end of "Darkling." Not 100% positive, but I think that is where I saw the scene I'm talking about.

[Robbert Raets]

Originally posted by Phantom
I think it was at the end of "Darkling." Not 100% positive, but I think that is where I saw the scene I'm talking about.

Yes, it is. It's the 'dark alter ego' episode. The idea of repeating the Hippocratic Oath is probably again 'do no harm'.

[ghosty]

While this may be completely off topic...sorry...

in the novel "My Enemy My Ally" Bones showed the Romulan surgeon how to use a protolaser. Kirk questioned him about showing Romulans Federation tech but Bones justified his action by quoting the Hippocratic Oath which bound him to "teach his art" to all who wanted to learn.