This is the oath traditionally sworn by doctors before starting to exercise. It can be considered as the basic principle of medical practice , because it establishes the ethical framework for the intervention of practioners, without having precisely the slightest legal value.

Its primary function is to mark the change in status from student to medical doctor.

‘AT THE TIME TO BE ACCEPTED AS A MEMBER OF THE MEDICAL PROFESSION:

I TAKE SOLEMN OATH to devote my life to the service of humanity;

I will give to my teachers the respect and gratitude that is their due;

I will practice my profession with conscience and dignity;

I will take the health of my patient as my first consideration;

I will respect the secrets that are confided in me, even after the patient’s death;

I will maintain, to the best of my ability, honor and noble traditions of the medical profession;

My colleagues  will be my brothers;

I will not allow considerations of religion, nation, race, or class party come between my duty and my patient;

I will keep absolute respect for human life from its beginning even under threat and I will not use my medical knowledge against the laws of humanity;

I make these promises solemnly, freely, on my honor.  »

The modern oath is based on the original text and was adopted by the Second General Assembly of the World Medical Association at Geneva in 1948.