Question

Какие стороны деятельности врача отражены в клятве Гиппократа? Зачем врачи приносят эту клятву?

Answer 1

Клятва Гиппократа, как предполагают ученые, была создана в устном виде потомками великого древнего врача Асклепия. Гиппократ в III веке до нашей эры первым объединил принципы врачебной деятельности и записал полный текст этой клятвы, которым впоследствии пользовались многие медики. 
Клятва Гиппократа разделяется на девять частей, каждая из которых описывает определенное обязательство. Часть из этих правил расходится с современными представлениями о врачебном деле, часть не принимается во внимание, и лишь несколько продолжают если не официально, то негласно служить основополагающими принципами во врачебной практике. Это принцип милосердия – врач обязуется оказывать помощь больному в любой ситуации, принцип конфиденциальности, известный также как врачебная тайна, принцип непричинения вреда и принцип заботы о больном – его интересы ставятся на первое место. 

Answer 2

The Hippocratic Oath and Its Reflection of a Doctor's Responsibilities

The Hippocratic Oath is an ancient ethical code that outlines the responsibilities and principles of medical professionals. It is named after the Greek physician Hippocrates, who is considered the father of Western medicine. The oath serves as a moral guide for doctors and reflects the values and duties expected of them in their practice.

The Hippocratic Oath reflects the following aspects of a doctor's activities:

1. Patient Care: The oath emphasizes the doctor's commitment to prioritize the well-being and best interests of their patients. It highlights the importance of providing appropriate medical treatment, maintaining confidentiality, and avoiding harm to patients.

2. Ethical Conduct: The oath emphasizes the importance of ethical behavior in medical practice. It encourages doctors to act with integrity, honesty, and professionalism. It also discourages actions such as performing unnecessary surgeries, exploiting patients for personal gain, or engaging in any form of sexual misconduct.

3. Continuing Education: The oath recognizes the importance of lifelong learning and professional development. It encourages doctors to stay updated with the latest medical knowledge and techniques to provide the best possible care to their patients.

4. Collegiality and Collaboration: The oath emphasizes the importance of working collaboratively with other healthcare professionals. It promotes mutual respect, cooperation, and the sharing of knowledge and expertise for the benefit of patients.

5. Confidentiality: The oath highlights the doctor's duty to maintain patient confidentiality. It stresses the importance of respecting the privacy of patients and not disclosing any confidential information without their consent, except in cases where it is required by law or necessary to protect public health.

6. Avoiding Harm: The oath emphasizes the doctor's responsibility to do no harm to their patients. It encourages doctors to consider the potential risks and benefits of medical interventions and to act in the best interest of the patient's health and well-being.

Why Doctors Take the Hippocratic Oath

Doctors take the Hippocratic Oath as a symbolic commitment to uphold the principles and values of the medical profession. The oath serves several important purposes:

1. Ethical Framework: The oath provides doctors with a clear ethical framework to guide their professional conduct. It sets a standard of behavior and reminds doctors of their responsibilities towards their patients, colleagues, and society as a whole.

2. Professional Identity: Taking the Hippocratic Oath is a rite of passage for doctors, marking their entry into the medical profession. It helps establish a sense of professional identity and fosters a commitment to the ideals and values of medicine.

3. Public Trust: The oath helps build public trust in the medical profession. By publicly declaring their commitment to ethical conduct and patient care, doctors reassure the public that they can be trusted to act in their best interests.

4. Professional Accountability: The oath holds doctors accountable for their actions. By taking the oath, doctors acknowledge their responsibility to adhere to professional standards and face consequences if they violate those standards.

5. Continuity of Tradition: The Hippocratic Oath has a long history and is deeply rooted in medical tradition. By taking the oath, doctors become part of a lineage of physicians who have sworn to uphold the principles of medical ethics for centuries.

In summary, the Hippocratic Oath reflects the various aspects of a doctor's activities, including patient care, ethical conduct, continuing education, collegiality, and confidentiality. Doctors take this oath to establish a moral framework for their professional practice, build public trust, and uphold the values and principles of the medical profession.