Doctor's Day 1 July - Rebello Proposes New Oath

Coming up in a few days is Doctor's Day, held on 1 July. Hippocrates' oath has become - for most doctors - a mere formality, says Leo Rebello from India and he proposes a new, somewhat extended oath. Rebello's new formulation is intended to put particular emphasis on the opening words of the original oath - primum non nocere or first of all, do no harm!

A contrary voice, but by no means a lonely one, Rebello is a successful "non conventional" medico in India.

REVISED OATH FOR DOCTORS

This, more comprehensive Oath was drawn by Dr. Leo Rebello in 2003, since Hippocrates Oath is now partly outdated being centuries old.  This revised Oath has been widely circulated, accepted and appreciated.

1st July is celebrated as Doctors Day all over the world. The day usually passes without a whimper.

Many doctors have forgotten their Hippocratic oath or humanism. Therefore, I would like to
administer the following oath to the doctors to serve as a reminder as to how important is their profession.

Doctors to please repeat after me.

I, -------------, do hereby swear on this solemn day that :

I shall NOT prescribe unnecessary medicines and tests to my patients;

I shall NOT give false counseling;

I shall NOT overcharge and accept cuts and gifts;

I shall NOT rape tiny tots with innoculations or vaccinations, for they pollute the blood stream
of small children leading to serious diseases like AIDS, Cancers later in life;

I shall NOT prescribe lethal drugs, like anti-retroviral, chemotherapy, or give ECT to my patients;

I shall NOT be afraid of any authority and fabricate medical records or give false evidence;

I shall NOT exploit students studying under me;

I shall NOT manipulate findings or results to win grants.

I, -------------, further solemnly affirm that :

If I cannot treat a disease, I shall not say that AIDS, cancers, diabetes has no cure. But will tell the patient to try other systems of medicine.

I shall treat health practitioners of other systems with respect and not tell deliberate lies
to prove my importance.

I shall study Holistic healing modalities to increase my knowledge and wisdom.

I shall not even by mistake say that HIV=AIDS=death or cancers cannot be treated.

I shall not frighten my patients with unnecessary comments, opinions or advice.

I still remember what Hippocrates said, namely, "Let diet be your medicine" and shall accordingly prescribe fresh fruits, vegetables and good diet to my patients, rather than tonics, syrups, synthetic multi-vitamins, specially to children.

I shall NOT perform surgery, unless it is absolutely must and will not indulge in rackets like amniocentesis, caesarian section, silicon implant or liposuction.

I shall work to ban the useless and cruel animal experiments in the name of medicine.

I shall participate in periodic workshops, seminars, conferences at my expense or on scholarship (no pharma funding) to educate myself and speak from my conscience if I am called upon to speak or preside.

Finally, I realize and aver that a great responsibility of people's well-being is upon my shoulders and I shall carry on my onerous task with utmost dedication.

This I swear in the name of God on this solemn Doctor's Day and I shall repeat this oath daily lest I forget that I am in a divine profession to heal the world.

Oath written and administered by
Dr. Leo Rebello
Tel. (91-22) 28872741
Email : leorebello@vsnl.com

 

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posted by Sepp Hasslberger on Saturday June 26 2004
updated on Wednesday November 24 2010

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Readers' Comments

Joseph your information sharing is inspirational. As President of the NNFA in New Zealand I take liberty of forwarding many of your items to members who may benefit particularly as we continue down the political road towards a Trans Tasman Joint Agency (broadly interpreted a rendition of the TGA)

Posted by: Bill Bracks on June 27, 2004 05:37 AM

 

Respected Sir,
I admire your values and ethics you have which follows in the path of our Great Swami Vivekananda.

Love and warm wishes.
Manav Pariwar

Posted by: Dhanvin Barot on August 23, 2005 07:25 AM

 

I gald to wish all doctors in the world for july-01
"WORLD DOCTORS DAY".

And i wish all the best in their life time.

Posted by: SANTHOSH BABU on July 1, 2006 06:07 AM

 

thanx for being so austere in giving a practical vision which will continue as mission.

Posted by: Dr. manisha, Dr,Sonali on July 1, 2006 07:08 AM

 

Sir,glad to see such a practical oathtaking badly necessary for the present doctors.As i know IMA celebrated doctor's day in memory of late Dr.B.C.Roy,whose birthday is on july 1st.What event laid to it known as world doctor's day.

with warmregards
Thanking You,
Dr.S.N.Mohanty,secretary,CME
Indian Medical Association
BARIPADA-757001.
ORISSA.

Posted by: Dr.Sibananda Mohanty on July 2, 2006 08:09 PM

 

The entire society admires the invaluable contribution of the doctors towards curing the human kind and restoring smiles of lakhs of faces.
The efforts towards eradicating pain and sorrows is, indeed, beyond expressing in words...
Thank You Doctor!

Posted by: Shreyas Ghanekar on February 2, 2007 04:26 AM

 

give a note of best quotations on doctors day

Posted by: pradeep on June 28, 2007 10:04 AM

 

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