The Hippocratic Oath in Latin with English Translation Latin by Albrecht de Haller (1708-1777) De Jurejurando Liber The Oath Praefatio Preface Statuta sunt artis medicae, quae discipulus recipere debebat, et jurejurando confirmare. Continet praecepta de gratitudine adversus Praeceptorem, de innocentia medentis, de administrationibus chirurgicis gravioribus non curandis, qualis est calculi vesicae sectione, ut putes post divisionem medicinae in tres artes scriptum fuisse. Veteres receperunt, Mercurialis rejicit. The statutes of medicine that an apprentice ought to accept and confirm by oath. It contains instructions about gratitude towards the teacher, about the blamelessness of the healer, about not being involved in carrying out the more serious types of surgery, such as removing bladder-stones ( — suggesting that the composition postdates the tri-partite division of the medical arts). The ancients accepted [this text as authentic]; Mercurialis rejected it. Argumentum Libri Synopsis of the Work Quae Medici esse debeat erga suum Praeceptorem observantia, et cultus; quae vitae integritas; quae apud aegros praestare, quae vitare ipsum oporteat. The service and care a physician owes his teacher; his integrity; what to do for the sick; what he himself should avoid. Sectio. The passage. Juro Apollinem Medicum, et Aesculapium, Hygejamque, ac Panaceam, et Deos omnes, itemque Deas testes adhibens, me ratum pro viribus, judicioque meo jusjurandum hoc, hancque contestationem effecturum. I swear by the Physician Apollo and Aesculapius, Hygeia and Panacea, also summoning all the gods and likewise the goddesses as witnesses, that, according to [lit. "reckoned by"] my strength and judgment, I am going to make good this oath and this attestation; Praeceptori quidem ei, qui me hanc artem docuit, peraeque ac meis progenitoribus honorem praestiturum, eique victum communicaturum, resque meas egenti impertiturum: that I will honor the instructor who taught me this art just as I honor my own parents, and that when he is in want I will share provisions with him, and give him a portion of my own property: ortos ex eo liberos germanis fratribus aequales aestimaturum, eosque hanc artem, si addiscere velint, absque mercede et pacto edocturum. that I will consider his children the equals of my own true siblings, and that I will teach them this art, should they wish to learn it, without a fee or contractual obligation. Praeceptionum ac narrationum, caeterorumque ad universam disciplinam spectantium, tum meos, et ejus, qui me docuerit, filios, tum discipulos stipulatione conscriptos, et lege medica sacramento addictos participes facturum; alium praeterea neminem. that the instructions and procedures and the other things relating to the whole practice I will share with my own sons, with the sons of the one who taught me, and with the students under written contract and bound under medical law by oath — and with no one else. 1 Victus quoque rationem ad aegrotantium salutem pro facultate, judicioque meo adhibebo, noxam vero et maleficium propulsabo. Also I will, according to my ability and judgment, prescribe a regimen for the health of the sick; but I will utterly reject harm and mischief. Neque vero cuiquam venenum mortiferum etiam rogatus dabo, neque hujusce consilii auctor ero. I will not give anyone deadly poison, even when asked, nor will I be the one to propose such a course of action. Simili autem modo neque mulieri pessum abortivum concedam. Just so, I will not grant a woman an abortifacient pessary. Verum caste, sancteque vitam meam, meamque artem tuebor. But in purity and holiness I will guard my life and my art. Calculo vero laborantes haud quaquam secabo; sed viris operatoribus hanc operationem obeuntibus relinquam. In no way will I perform surgery on those suffering from the stone, but I will leave this procedure to those who are practiced in it. In quascunque autem aedes introiero, eas ad aegrotantium opem ingrediar: Whatever house I enter, I will be going into it to help the sick, ab omni scelere voluntario et corruptela, tum alia, tum operum venereorum in corporibus mulierum, ac virorum, liberorum ac servorum procul remotus. completely innocent of every intentional crime and corruption, both those of a sexual nature with respect to the bodies of women and men, free and slave, and those crimes of a different nature. At quae inter curandum, aut etiam citra curationem in hominum vita vel videro, vel audiero, quae foras nequaquam efferi oporteat, ea arcana esse ratus, silentio praetermittam. And whatever I see or hear in people's lives during the treatment, or even outside treatment, that ought not be made public, I will pass over in silence, considering such things to be reserved secrets. Hoc igitur jusjurandum mihi haud irritum facienti, neque violanti, tum vita et arte frui, tum meam gloriam apud omnes homines aeterno tempore celebrari contingat. Transgredienti vero, ac pejeranti, his contraria eveniant. As I scrupulously fulfill [lit. "in no way make void"] this oath and do not violate it, then may it be my lot both to enjoy my life and art, and to have my renown celebrated among all people forever. But if I transgress and falsely swear this oath, may I suffer the opposite. Latin taken from pp. 197-199 of Hippocratis opera vera et adscripta in tres classes divisa. Praefatus est Albertus de Haller. Tomus Quartus. Lausannae, Sumptibus Franc. Grasset et Socior. MDCCLXXI. This edition and English translation © Claude Pavur, 2013. Last revised September 22, 2013. 2