University of Pittsburgh - Owl Yearbook (Pittsburgh, PA)

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R S I T y O F PITTSBURG The Oath of Hippocrates I SWEAR by Apollo, the physician, by Aesculapius, by Hygeia, Panacea, and all the gods and goddesses, that, according to my ability and judgment. I will keep this oath and stipulation: to reckon him who taught me this art equally dear to me with my parents; to share my substance with him, and relieve his necessities, it required; to look upon his offspring on the same footing with my brothers and to teach them this art. if they shall wish to learn it. without fee or stipulation; and that by precept, lecture, and every other mode of instruction, I will impart a knowledge of this art to my own sons, to those of my teachers, and to disciples bound by a stipulation and oath according to the law of medicine, but to no others. I Will follow that system of regime which, according to my ability and judgment. 1 consider for the benefit of my patients, and abstain from whatever is deleterious and mischievous. I will give no deadly medicine to any one if asked, nor suggest any such counsel: and in like manner, I will not give to a woman an instrument to produce abortion. With purity and with holiness I will pass my life and practice my art. I Will not cut persons suffering from the stone, but will leave this to be done by men who are practitioners of this work. Into whatever houses I enter. I will go into them for the benefit of the sick, and will abstain from every voluntary act of mischief and corruption; and, further, from the seduction of females or males, of freemen and slaves. Whatever, in connection with my professional practice or not in connection with it. I see or hear in the life of men, which ought not to be s| oken abroad, 1 will not divulge; as reckoning that all such things should be kept secret. While I continue to keep this oath unviolated, may it be granted me to enjoy life and the practice of the art, respected by all men. in all times! Hut should 1 trespass and violate this oath, may the reverse be my lot! 21

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Raleigh Russell Huggins Dean of the School of Medicine The Time For Courage WITH the advent of man came the spirit of medicine. Nurtured through early Kgyptian days it came into a more dignified existence when Hippocrates gave to it certain prescribed rules that have never been improved upon. A code of ethics and standards have made a profession, which, with all its shortcomings and failures, is the most outstanding ami most altruistic of all professions dealing with the physical handicaps of man and his social environment. This ascent has been made through long painful effort, and. so far as can be determined, the advancement of the physician has kept pace with civilization. Then came so-called | eriod of capitalism and with it the growth in engineering which has amazed the world, but with its solution of mechanical problems this profession has temporarily brought starvation to the homes of millions. In vain do we look to these so-called leaders for help in an emergency the like of which the world has never seen. We are now in the midst of much commotion in respect to the relationship of the physician to the community. Much of the criticism and many of the remedies are suggested by people who have never been familiar with the real problems of sickness. There has been an insidious and determined effort on the part of other groups, many of whom have failed in their own line of endeavor, to put the medical profession off the “gold standard”. This effort had its origin in so-called health insurance” about fifty years ago. We should Ik- thankful that in America there is a medical profession keenly appreciative of what it has 22 •