Thread by @MarkHertling

In studying leadership as it applies to physicians, I've also researched the oath doctors take. Most know the Hippocratic oath centers around "do no harm" (in the Latin, "primum non nocere"), but that's actually just a summary of a longer, more beautiful & moving oath. 1/

https://twitter.com/ArkansasOnline/status/1375524287512186892

The words of the original oath describe in detail how to adhere to the ethical standards of the day. Attributed to Hippocrates, but allegedly written by a consortium of great thinkers between the 3d and 5th century BC. 2/

Here's a few of the highlights of the entire oath:
"I swear by Apollo Physician, by Asclepius, by Hygiea, by Panacea, and by all the gods and goddesses, making them my witnesses, that I will carry out, according to my ability and judgment, this oath and this indenture...." 3/

"I will use my knowledge to treat and to help the sick according to my ability and judgment, but never with a view to injury and wrong-doing...Into whatsoever house I enter, I will enter to help the sick, and I will abstain from all intentional wrong-doing and harm..." 4/

"Whatsoever I shall see or hear in the course of my profession, as well as outside my profession in my intercourse with men, if it be what should not be published abroad, I will never divulge, holding such things to be holy secrets." 5/

There are so many more beautiful words and phrases to this oath, which a wonderful doctor shared with me a few years ago. I also learned this oath is usually combined with the just as beautiful prayer of Maimonides: 6/

"The eternal providence has appointed me to watch over the life & health of Thy creatures. May the love for my art actuate me at all times; may neither avarice nor miserliness, nor thirst for glory or for a great reputation engage my mind...." 7/

"May I never see in the patient anything but a fellow creature in pain...."

"Oh, God, Thou has appointed me to watch over the life and death of Thy creatures; here am I ready for my vocation and now I turn unto my calling." 8/

I remember once watching a US Army Physician, in combat, care for a wounded al Qaida fighter. I also once visited a place in the WWII Huertgen Forest battlefield - the where US and German medics worked together tending the wounded of both sides. 9/

Most recently, a Muslim physician told me a patient saw his name and stated he did not want a "non-Christian" doctor treating him. That doctor told the patient he was the very best in his speciality & convinced the patient he was the right physician for the job. 10/

I left one profession - the military - and for the last 7 years have observed those in another (medicine). Like soldiers, doctors have an oath, professional ethics, and requirements to do their duty.

Seems to me GOV Hutchison's "law" is both misguided and unethical. 11/end