In discussing the relevance of the oath to modern medicine, Foxe writes: "The oath on deleterious or mischievous regimens is of obvious import todady as is that on poisons. The oath on abortions may find more lax attitudes today, but one might hope that abortions, some day, will be replaced by the adopting out of unwanted children rather than their destruction.." He goes on to suggest that "it is now possible to rewrite the oath in a form more comprehensible to the modern Mind. It becomes a noble oath, the culmination of Greek medicine, not so nearly approached before or again." His new version of the oath reads in part: "I swear to join with the forces that heal in wound and disease, for man and mankind, with an attitude of courage, kindliness, protectiveness, cheerful serenity and dignity..I will do that only which is for the benefit of my patient and not that which is deleterious and mischievous.. I will give no deadly medicine to anyone if asked, nor suggest any such counsel. I will not advise abortion unless the life of the patient be truly jeopardized, but rather will advise adoption if necessary.."
Rare. Fine .
Keywords: MEDICAL; HISTORY OF MEDICINE; MYTHOLOGY; THE OATH OF HIPPOCRATES; HIPPOCRATIC OATH; DOCTORS; ARTHUR N. FOXE; THE PSYCHIATRIC QUARTERLY; ABORTION; GREEK GODS; AESCULAPIUS; APOLLO; HEALING.