METHOD A literature review of articles for oaths taken at medical schools was conducted. Articles were selected that followed or referenced similar methods for gathering data as the Irish and McMurray survey of 1958. Their method was to send out surveys and collect 100% response from all medical schools in the U.S and Canada. If a response was not returned, they followed by contacting the deans of the medical schools directly. Hippocratic Oath were Lectures on the viewed, “What
Hippocratic Oath dropped to 5.6% of all medical schools surveyed while the modified Hippocratic Oath increased to 56.9% in 1994. This resulted in a total of 67% overall use of the Oath and a decrease in all other forms of an oath. The trend clearly shows that “An Oath”, to include the Hippocratic Oath, is being used more often. Looking at more specific data about the use of the Hippocratic Oath, we see that the Classical Hippocratic Oath is being used less while the modified Hippocratic Oath is increasing. This modification and refining or redefining the Hippocratic Oath is an indication that medical doctors are taking a personal interest on their professional work. CONCLUSIONS
Hippocrates Knew and we have Forgotten”, by John Patrick at the University of Wisconsin School of Medicine. Finally, interviews with practicing physicians were conducted getting a firsthand perspective on the Hippocratic Oath. DISCUSSION What has changed over the last century? The Hippocratic Oath, as surveyed by Irish and McMurray, showed that 49% of the medical schools surveyed, used either the Hippocratic Oath at 6% or a modified Hippocratic Oath at 43%. The remaining 51% of schools surveyed used something other than these. Looking at a previous study in 1928, only 11% responded using the Classical Hippocratic Oath. A third study by Ralph Crawshaw, reported in 1996, the Classical
Reasons for the change in content from the classical Hippocratic Oath to the modern “Modified Hippocratic Oath, may have to do with personal beliefs like such items as removing the “Swearing by Apollo” to “Swearing what one holds most sacred”. Other content has been completely removed from some oaths, such as “Prohibition of abortion”, allowing doctors to perform these procedures without violating their solemn promise. However, issues like these never undergo a critical damping