Hippocratic Oath Trivia Quiz

Answer:

Hippocrates was a philosopher and physician who is considered to be the father of medicine. He looked upon medicine as a scientific pursuit at a time when those who attempted to provide healing had few guiding principles, and were often considered god-like. Those healers were free to do as they pleased according to their beliefs. Hippocrates wrote this oath in an attempt to guide those who were acting as physicians at a time when few laws regarding their practice existed. The oath was used in Ancient Greece, especially amongst Hippocrates' disciples, but did not become universal in medicine until the early part of the 19th century.

In modern times, many argue that the Hippocratic Oath has become outdated due to cultural changes, or changes in medical practice since it was written. In 1973, the Supreme Court in the US stated that the Hippocratic Oath should not be used to guide medicine because it doesn't allow for updated practices or research. For example, the oath prohibits both abortion and euthanasia. However, both are legal in some US states, and in many other countries around the world. That said, a review study that was published in 2004 found that 62 out of 122 universities in the US administered the original Hippocratic Oath, or a modified version of it, to their medical school graduates. One modern version of the oath was written by Louis Lasagna, Academic Dean of the School of Medicine at Tufts University in 1964. It reflects similar ethics and values as set out by Hippocrates, but also takes a more modern view of medical practices and research.