Chapter 5: The Hypocritical Oath

I swear to fulfill, to the best of my ability and judgment, this covenant:

I will respect the hard-won scientific gains of those physicians in whose steps I walk, and gladly share such knowledge as is mine with those who are to follow. 

But should any physician, patient, or any individual from any walk of life inflict any criminal attack upon me, especially if it is sexual or brutal in nature, I will not tolerate it. 

For I am a human within a doctor, I will preserve my humanity by seeking justice. I will obtain the appropriate moral compensation for my culprit's crime. I will not settle for temporary protests and bailable punishment declared by court after waiting for years.

I will apply, for the benefit of the sick, all measures [that] are required, avoiding those twin traps of overtreatment and therapeutic nihilism.

But should the need ever arise, in the face of harm and for the sake of self-defence, I will excercise my knowledge (medical and otherwise) to inflict medical trauma, and induce or accelerate sickness in the culprit(s) in question- regardless of their consequential death.

I will remember that there is art to medicine as well as science, and that warmth, sympathy, and understanding may outweigh the surgeon's knife or the chemist's drug.

I will also remember that being a doctor does not isolate me from my human rights. I will remember that the surgeon's knife and chemist's drug are potential weapons of crime as well as defence; and warmth, sympathy and understanding are earned not entrusted.

I will not be ashamed to say "I know not" or "help me", nor will I fail to call in my colleagues when the skills of another are needed for a patient's recovery, or for my own safety and security.

I will respect the privacy of my patients, for their problems are not disclosed to me that the world may know. Most especially must I tread with care in matters of life and death. If it is given me to save a life, all thanks. But it may also be within my power to take a life; this awesome responsibility must be faced with great humbleness and awareness of my own frailty. 

Above all, I must not play at God. But should anyone produce a reason that threatens my wellbeing and life, I will most definitely play God.

I will remember that I do not treat a fever chart, a cancerous growth, but a sick human being, whose illness may affect the person's family and economic stability. I will, however, not oblige to treat someone who shows unacceptable behaviour directed at me or a colleague, in response to unexpected results.

My responsibility includes these related problems, if I am to care adequately for the sick. But I will not hold responsibility for crimes committed against me and in response, I will oblige to inflict harm upon the culprit(s) on my own terms.

I will prevent disease whenever I can, for prevention is preferable to cure.

I will remember that I remain a member of society, with special obligations to all my fellow human beings, those sound of mind and body as well as the infirm. 

I will excercise the rights I preserve to work and study in a safe and secured environment. I will take the necessary action to protect myself and those innocent around me.

If I do not violate this oath, may I enjoy life and art, respected while I live and remembered with affection thereafter. If I do violate it, may it be driven by ethically and morally justified judgement, and be rewarded with public alliance and legal support.

May I always act so as to preserve the finest traditions of my calling and may I long experience the joy of healing those who seek my help. May I save lives of the ones who deserve to be saved and take lives of the ones who do not.