| − | Hippocrates, the “father of medicine,” lived 460-377 B.C. He issued the “Hippocratic Oath” that has been required of medical students around the world as a condition of graduation. It originally stated in part: “I will follow that system of regimen which, according to my ability and judgment, I consider for the benefit of my patients, and abstain from whatever is deleterious and mischievous. I will give no deadly medicine to any one if asked, nor suggest any such counsel; and in like manner I will not give to a woman a pessary to produce abortion.” With impeccable Greek logic, Hippocrates saw abortion as being in direct opposition to a doctor’s role of promoting life and health. People who profit from abortion today refuse to obey the Oath. | + | [[File:Hippocrate refusant les présents d'Artaxerxès (original).JPG|thumbnail|thumbnail|300px|right|The above painting depicts the apocryphal story of Hippocrates refusing the presents of the Achaemenid Emperor Artaxerxes, who was asking for his services. Painted by Girodet, 1792]] |
| | + | The Oath originally stated in part: “I will follow that system of regimen which, according to my ability and judgment, I consider for the benefit of my patients, and abstain from whatever is deleterious and mischievous. (...) I will give no deadly medicine to any one if asked, nor suggest any such counsel; and in like manner I will not give to a woman a pessary to produce [[abortion]].” Hippocrates saw abortion as being in direct opposition to a doctor's role of promoting life and health. |
| | + | Physicians who practice abortion today do not obey this Oath in its original formulation but this should not worry [[Christian]] doctors as the original wording began I swear by [[Apollo (mythology)|Apollo]], [[Æsculapius]], [[Hygieia]], and [[Panacea]] which are Mythical Greek gods. |