Scrap Hippocratic Oath, say Italian doctors
Ancient oath bans abortion and euthanasia
Some senior Italian doctors have called for the Hippocratic Oath, which all doctors take at the beginning of their career, to be scrapped. "There are passages which are no longer relevant to our times and which newly qualified doctors know in advance they will not be able to respect," Giorgio Ianetti, a professor of surgery at Rome University, told a conference. He was referring to the ancient oath’s ban on abortion and euthanasia. Some of his colleagues disagreed. The head of surgery at the same university, Luigi Frati, contended that the 4th century BC oath "reminds new doctors of certain fundamental concepts… They feel they belong to a scientific community with a long tradition." ~ London Times, Dec 11
Ancient oath bans abortion and euthanasia
- How long can you put off seeing the doctor because of lockdowns? - December 3, 2021
- House of Lords debates assisted suicide—again - October 28, 2021
- Spanish government tries to restrict conscientious objection - October 28, 2021
More Stories
Is diversity of opinion at risk in medical journals?
A couple of years ago, a new editor was appointed to one of the world’s leading medical journals, JAMA, or...
It’s time to abolish morality in bioethics, say bioethicists
The idea that morality ought to be abolished is not limited to invading armies (pick one) or child abusers or...
Former deputy editor of BioEdge to head Sydney bioethics centre
The former deputy editor of BioEdge has been appointed director of a bioethics think tank in Australia. Dr Xavier Symons,...
The medical profession needs to reflect on the crimes of Nazi doctors, says The Lancet
Medical ethics education must be informed by a robust understanding of medicine’s role within the Nazi regime, according to a...
Is the ethics of animal liberation showing its age? Is Peter Singer a closet speciesist?
The Expanding Circle (1981) is one of Peter Singer’s best-known books. In it he argues that moral progress is marked...
The responsibility of bioethicists: the case study of Yemen
With the eyes of the world on the war between Israel and Hamas in Gaza, there have been relatively few...