ABSTRACT: The Hippocratic Oath, written in the 4 th century BC, has emerged strongly over the past 500 years in medical schools. Although not all medical schools use the original text of the Hippocratic Oath, some version, modified Hippocratic Oaths, evolved, maintaining the many of the same basic principles thought to be essential to a practicing physician many years ago. Merriam Webster defines an oath as “a solemn usually formal calling upon God or a god to witness to the truth of what one says or witness that one sincerely intends to what one says”. The oath is a guide for new doctors, “a self-imposed moral principle”. Within the last century, the use of an oath, to include the Hippocratic oath, in graduating medical schools has increased to nearly 100% in the U.S as indicated by the Corey surveys in 1928 at 43%, Irish and McMurray surveys in 1958 at 74% Friedlander’s survey of 93%in 1994 and finally Dr. Orr’s study in 1997 at
94%. There are different versions of the Hippocratic Oath. Throughout the years, Oaths have evolved to match the next generation of graduating medical student’s values. It is safe to say that the oath taken by medical school graduates may not be the same from one medical school to the next. So what is the “Oath”, Hippocratic or otherwise? It has changed; there can be no argument about that. The changes in the wording of the oath tend to reflect the particular values of a generation, or better understanding of medicine. However some parts stand the test of time despite the technological advances. Information technology, electronic medical records, and the microprocessor have changed how medicine is practiced. However, the Hippocratic Oath concerning patient confidentiality has remained a constant for centuries.