Oath of XIV century Georgian Orthodox doctors is published

The Karibche.ambebi.ge website has published the oath of fourteenth-century Georgian Orthodox doctors which is similar to the world-famous Hippocratic oath but has some fundamental distinctions (chiefly due to its Christian component), reports Blagovest-info.

The rector of the Tbilisi Church of St. John the Theologian, priest and doctor Konstantin Giorgadze, introduced it to the readers. The oath’s text is given below.

The oath of an Orthodox doctor:

“Hallowed be the Name of the Lord, the Father of our Savior Jesus Christ, now and ever and unto ages of ages!

I will not lie!

I will not profane the teaching of the medical arts!

I will not give a deadly mixture to anybody, even to those who wish it, and will never disclose its recipe; likewise, I will never offer a woman any remedy, to be used either externally or internally, for the abortion of a fetus.

I will teach the medical arts to all who need it, without any complaints or accord.

I will apply all possible means, according to my abilities and knowledge, in order to help the suffering.

I will keep my life and my skill in purity and holiness.

Whichever house I may enter, I will enter it only for aiding the sick; I will refrain from any kind of injustice (either known or unknown to me) which leads to one’s death or suffering; and will refrain from shameful relations with any woman or man, either dependent or independent.

Whatever I may see or learn in the course of medical treatment (or among a patient’s close circles), I will not divulge any confidential information and will regard it as a holy secret.

If I keep and never violate this oath, then may the Lord help me in my life and in the art of medicine; should I violate it, then may the Lord take all of this away from me”.

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