Doctor–patient sexual relationships in medical oaths: Table 1

Abstract

Background: Doctor-patient sexual relationship is considered to be unfair because the first party would be abusing the second party's vulnerability. The prohibition of this relationship is noted in the Hippocratic oath. Currently, a reprise of the use of oaths in medical schools can be observed. Aim: To determine whether the prohibition has been maintained and how its expression has varied in the oaths during different periods. Methods: 50 oaths were studied: 13 ancient-medieval and 37 modern-contemporary. Of the 50 texts, 19 were versions of the original oaths. The oaths that pointed out the prohibited doctor-patient relationship referred to any sexual aspect or included paragraphs that began as the Hippocratic oath does were noted. Results: Of the 24 (48%) texts that expressed the prohibition, 8 (62%) were ancient-medieval and 16 (43%) were modern-contemporary. Some expressly call it Hippocratic oath, many use general terminology (corruption or vice) and others describe it in association with other commitments (abortion and euthanasia). Conclusions: The clause on the prohibition of the doctor-patient sexual relationship in Hippocratic oath was included to be for legal, economic and social reasons at the time. That the clause is found mostly in the ancient-medieval oaths can be attributed to the influence of the original. This commitment is generalised and associated with others by contemporary formulas. Currently, sexual relationships are the subject of legal and ethical analysis and their inclusion in the oaths is being debated.

Emergency Medicine in the #MeToo Era

“…The concept advanced and regulations and case law further defined this behavior. The problem of inappropriate sexual behavior by physicians has been recognized as a deplorable practice in medicine for ages, as noted in the Oath of Hippocrates: “Whatever houses I may visit, I will come for the benefit of the sick, remaining free of all intentional injustice, of all mischief and in particular of sexual relations with both female and male persons, be they free or slaves.”…”

Use of the Hippocratic or other professional oaths in UK medical schools in 2017: practice, perception of benefit and principlism

“…That a professional oath may change over time is clear from some work, which would seem to indicate that not all oaths specifically prohibit doctor-patient sexual relationships [ 15 ]. Clearly society can vary the contents of oaths or codes to suit.…”

Ιστορική Διερεύνηση Της Ιατρικής Δεοντολογίας Στον Ελληνικό Χώρο, Με Έμφαση Στην Ιπποκρατική Ιατρική

“…Αλλά στο Ολυμπιακό Δωδεκάθειο, κατεξοχήν θεός της υγείας ήταν ο θεός Απόλλωνας. Την ιδιότητά του μοιράστηκε και η μητέρα του Λητώ, που παρομοιάζεται με λύκαινα και συνδέεται με τη Σελήνη (Κερένυϊ, [129][130]. Ας σημειωθεί ότι ο Απόλλωνας θεωρείτο υπέυθυνος και για την έναρξη και τη κλήξη επιδημιών, όπως φαίνεται από τη ραψωδία Α της ΙΛΙΑΔΑΣ.…”

“…Ας σημειωθεί ότι η συγκεκριμένη αρχή του Ιπποκρατικού ΟΡΚΟΥ συμπεριλήφθηκε σε 24 από 50 παρόμοια κείμενα, 13 από την αρχαιότητα και 37 από τη μεσαιωνική και νεότερη εποχή, αλλά παραλείφθηκε από τους υπόλοιπους. Η μελέτη που υπέδειξε την επισήμανση αυτή, καταλήγει ότι η αρχική Ιπποκρατική απαγόρευση αποτελούσε απόρροια νομικών, οικονομικών και κοινωνικών αιτιών (Perez & al., 2006). Αν θέλουμε να συνεχίσουμε τον παραπάνω συλλογισμό, θα λέγαμε ότι η απαγόρευση ατονεί με το πέρασμα του χρόνου, οπότε θα μπορούσαμε να υποψιαστούμε ότι και η ηθική και η δεοντολογία πιθανώς ατονούν επίσης.…”