First, Do No Harm

Dear Jessica Brennan,

When doctors graduate from medical school they often make a pledge to uphold certain values, taken from the Hippocratic Oath. What is considered the earliest surviving version of this oath dates back to 275 AD.  A more modern version was rewritten in 1964 and is one that is still used by some today as they enter into their careers as physicians.

Here it is:

I swear to fulfill, to the best of my ability and judgment, this covenant:

I will respect the hard-won scientific gains of those physicians in whose steps I walk, and gladly share such knowledge as is mine with those who are to follow.

I will apply, for the benefit of the sick, all measures [that] are required, avoiding those twin traps of over-treatment and therapeutic nihilism.

I will remember that there is art to medicine as well as science, and that warmth, sympathy, and understanding may outweigh the surgeon’s knife or the chemist’s drug.

I will not be ashamed to say “I know not,” nor will I fail to call in my colleagues when the skills of another are needed for a patient’s recovery.

I will respect the privacy of my patients, for their problems are not disclosed to me that the world may know. Most especially must I tread with care in matters of life and death.

If it is given me to save a life, all thanks. But it may also be within my power to take a life; this awesome responsibility must be faced with great humbleness and awareness of my own frailty. Above all, I must not play at God.

I will remember that I do not treat a fever chart, a cancerous growth, but a sick human being, whose illness may affect the person’s family and economic stability. My responsibility includes these related problems, if I am to care adequately for the sick.

I will prevent disease whenever I can, for prevention is preferable to cure.

I will remember that I remain a member of society, with special obligations to all my fellow human beings, those sound of mind and body as well as the infirm.

If I do not violate this oath, may I enjoy life and art, respected while I live and remembered with affection thereafter. May I always act so as to preserve the finest traditions of my calling and may I long experience the joy of healing those who seek my help.

I read this text recently, because I never actually had before, and thought, what if we used the oath that doctors take, as a guide to a pledge we all could make?  What if we even went a step further and thought of ourselves as doctors and healers when we deal with others? What if healing was more important than winning?

I will be the first to put my hand up and admit that this is truly difficult to the point of almost impossible for most human beings, and I am no exception. However, trying to get to the point where healing is our default, is still a worthy ambition.

The phrase, “First do no harm” is often quoted from the Hippocratic Oath, yet it is not in fact specifically contained therein.  However, I like it, so I think we should start with it in ours.

What do you think of this?

I swear to fulfill, to the best of my ability and judgment, this covenant:

First do no harm.

I will respect the hard-won gains of those people in whose steps I walk, and gladly share such knowledge as is mine with those who are to follow.

I will apply, for the benefit of all people in need, all measures that are required, avoiding those twin traps of over-helping and supporting the emotional ruin of nihilism.

I will remember that there is art to living as well as communication, and that warmth, sympathy, and understanding may outweigh being right or having power.

I will not be ashamed to say, “I know not,” nor will I fail to call in my colleagues and friends when the skills of another are needed for a better outcome.

I will respect the privacy of my loved ones, for their problems are not disclosed to me that the world may know. Most especially must I tread with care in matters of life, stress, change and death. If it is given me to save the heart of another, all thanks. But it may also be within my power to take away hope; this awesome responsibility must be faced with great humbleness and awareness of my own frailty. Above all, I must not play at God.

I will remember that even with strangers, I do not converse with a nameless, faceless human being – a burden to me, but rather a whole person, whose needs affect that person’s family and emotional stability, as well as the community at large. My responsibility includes considering this, if I am to rise and grow as a human being.

I will prevent toxicity whenever I can, for prevention is preferable to cure.

I will remember that I remain a member of society, with special obligations to all my fellow human beings, those sound of mind and body as well as the poor, displaced, suffering and infirm.

If I do not violate this oath, may I enjoy life and art, respected while I live and remembered with affection thereafter. May I always act so as to preserve the finest traditions of good people and may I long experience the joy of loving those who cross my path.

I think that’s a good starting point, even though it sounds like kind of a tall order. It seems, “First, do no harm”, is the place to begin.

Baby steps.

Love,

Mum xo

** Just a note to say that next week’s blog will be a continuation of this blog and will be called: “Second, Do Know Harm”.   See you next Friday! **

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