Citation

Prioreschi P. Med. Hypotheses 1995; 44(6): 447-462.

Copyright

(Copyright © 1995, Elsevier Publishing)

DOI

10.1016/0306-9877(95)90505-7

PMID

7476588

Abstract

The Hippocratic Oath is to be considered a code of conduct for all physicians and not a Pythagorean manifesto, in spite of the view of Edelstein. In fact, it can be shown that the prohibitions and requirements on which the Pythagorean hypothesis rests (the prohibition against helping suicide, inducing abortion, performing surgery, and having sex with patients or with members of their household and the rules of confidentiality and collegiality) do not necessarily link the Hippocratic Oath to the Pythagoreans. Edelstein affirms that only the Pythagoreans condemned suicide, whereas it can be shown that Plato, Aristotle, the Epicureans, and several authors in antiquity opposed it. Similarly, induced abortion was by no means universally accepted in antiquity. Soranus, for example, clearly states that many physicians opposed it in all cases. The passage of the oath concerning surgery can be shown to refer only to lithotomy (as others have underlined). As for sexual relations with patients or members of their household (male or female), the existence of laws against promiscuity (homo- or heterosexual), and other evidence, indicates that it was usually condemned. Finally, confidentiality and collegiality were virtues that the Pythagoreans were not alone in upholding. In addition, many of the principles upheld by the Oath are found in other documents unrelated to the Pythagoreans.

Language: en

Keywords

Abortion, Induced; Bioethics and Professional Ethics; Confidentiality; Female; Hippocratic Oath; Humans; Interprofessional Relations; Male; Pregnancy; Professional-Family Relations; Professional-Patient Relations; Sexual Behavior; Surgical Procedures, Operative