Hippocratic oath

American  

noun

1. an oath embodying the duties and obligations of physicians, usually taken by those about to enter upon the practice of medicine.

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Hippocratic oath British  

/ ˌhɪpəʊˈkrætɪk /

noun

1. an oath taken by a doctor to observe a code of medical ethics supposedly derived from that of Hippocrates

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Hippocratic oath Cultural  

1. A traditional oath of physicians, who pledge to practice medicine according to the ideals and moral principles put forth by Hippocrates.

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Etymology

Origin of Hippocratic oath

First recorded in 1740–50

Example Sentences

But move sparingly, even reluctantly, not as a social warrior out to purify the world but as a cautious editor working under the burden of a Hippocratic oath to do no harm.

From Washington Post

Gatekeeping has also been driven by a misapplication of the Hippocratic oath to do no harm.

From New York Times

“One of the first thoughts that came into my mind is that this is a violation of the Hippocratic oath which says all physicians must do no harm,” Mr. Cohen told The Washington Times.

From Washington Times

Caregivers bound by the Hippocratic oath are still being put at risk by the unmasked and the unvaccinated, who bind themselves to no oath to other people at all.

From New York Times

Mr. Harris, on the other hand, has chosen to ignore all of his medical training and violate the Hippocratic oath by prescribing an untested treatment that could cause much more harm than it could prevent.

From Washington Post