The Hippocratic Oath is a well known oath that has been taken by healthcare professionals such as doctors and nurses for centuries. It is a pledge to uphold certain ethical standards in order to provide the best possible care for patients. One of the lines in the Hippocratic Oath is “If I betray these words, may harm come to me and my family”. So, what is the meaning behind this line and why is it so important?

The phrase “if I betray these words” essentially means that if a healthcare professional violates the ethical principles outlined in the Hippocratic Oath, they will suffer the consequences of their actions. The phrase is a powerful reminder to all healthcare professionals of the importance of acting with integrity and professionalism, and to uphold the oath that they have taken.

The Hippocratic Oath outlines several ethical principles which healthcare professionals promise to follow. These principles include respecting patient autonomy, confidentiality, and striving to do no harm. The oath also includes a commitment to professionalism and empathy towards patients.

Yet, the oath never says that the physician or healthcare worker shall take care of the self…should it be updated? Comment 👇.

Originally Published on https://www.theworthyphysician.com/blog

Sapna Shah-Haque Internal Medicine Physician

Dr. Sapna Shah-Haque, MD is a board certified Internal Medicine physician. She was born and raised in Kansas, and attended medical school at the University of Kansas [KU] School of Medicine. She completed her Internal Medicine residency at KU-Wichita as well. After experiencing burnout herself, and watching other physician colleagues burn out, it became a passion of hers to look into different aspects of burnout. While the system does need to change, as it is broken, this podcast is a way to reach physicians and possibly shed light on what is not an isolated situation.