16th
Hippocratic Oath 2.0
Times have changed since the days of Hippocrates and so too have the things that physicians must be wary of in practicing their art. The following “Hippocratic Oath 2.0” takes count of these new pressures. It also incorporates some of my own views as to what is important to the practice of medicine and for patient health. (Special thanks to Robin Hanson.)
I swear, according to the accumulated knowledge of the allied health professions and of the economists who study this field, I will work to become the best physician that I can be to my patients. Thus…
…I vow to fully engage my medical studies, so as to have as much knowledge at my disposal as possible when it comes to the treatment of my future patients
…I vow to hone my medical Spanish so as to be a better provider for the variety of patients that frequent USC-Keck hospitals
…I vow, to the best of my abilities, to practice evidence-based medicine
…I vow to do as much as is needed to treat a patient’s pathology and no more
…I vow to be cautious in administering new therapies that do not yet have a track record
…I vow to prescribe the generic version of drugs when that is an option
…I vow to foster a collaborative environment with the other healthcare workers on my team.
…I vow to see my patients promptly, without excessive waiting room stays
…Acknowledging its difficulty, I vow to talk to my patients about avoiding unhealthy behaviors and to encourage taking up healthy ones. I vow to stress the centrality of diet and physical activity to the patient’s health.
…I vow to keep my own body and mind in excellent condition so as to be the best practitioner of medicine I can be
…I vow to stay up to date on the medical literature, or to cease practice when my techniques grow stale
…I vow to stick to the above vows 99% of the time; yet to discard them in rare circumstances where the good of the patient requires doing so
Now, if I keep these vows, may I enjoy excellence, in my profession and in the practice of medicine, throughout my career.
