2006-07-24 10:50:55 · 14 answers · asked by Curious6108 1 in Pregnancy & Parenting ➔ Pregnancy
Most medical schools opt for a modernized oath that doesn't mention abortion or assisted suicide, but conservatives say the Hippocratic tradition is being diluted.
One medical ethicist says much of the debate over the oath is misguided. In The Hippocratic Oath and the Ethics of Medicine, Steven Miles, MD, a bioethics professor at the University of Minnesota Medical School, argues that what are read today as prohibitions of assisted suicide and abortion were actually injunctions against providing poisons to assassins and a particular type of abortive suppository known even then to do irreparable damage to women.
"When you read a document like the Hippocratic Oath," Dr. Miles said, "you have to read what it was saying to its time and judge how fair it is to extrapolate it to the problems in our time."
2006-07-24 10:53:25 · answer #1 · answered by Justsyd 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I guess it would depend on the viewpoint of the physician. The Hypocratic Oath says you can do no harm to patients, so because the mother is the patient and the abortion isn't harming her, only the fetus, he could rationalize it that way. Other physicians believe life begins at conception. Since they view the fetus as a person, it becomes a patient by proxy. Since they can do no harm to patients, they refuse to perform abortion procedures.
2006-07-24 10:56:07 · answer #2 · answered by rhymeweaver 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The oath also says: "I will follow that system of regimen which, according to my ability and judgment, I consider for the benefit of my patients." So, the mother being the patient, taking all factors into account, the doctor may believe an abortion is for the benefit of the patient.
Also, the Hippocratic Oath is not legally binding, from what I've read. It's enforced, to a degree, by medical professional associations. It's an ethical oath. Not something one could go to court over, either.
2006-07-24 11:05:20 · answer #3 · answered by RQ1227 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I'm pretty sure they can refuse a patient. Just recomend the patient to another doctor. I've been wondering about something similar to this question. I'm going back to scool next year to be a registered nurse. There's no way in hell I would assist with an abortion. I guess as a physician you could have signs put up in your office saying "We hold the right to refuse patients." You could also have that in your paper work that the patients have to fill out. Just say no.
2006-07-24 10:57:08 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
My grandfather is an OB and he said that he was pro-choice until he was present during an abortion. He said that what came out was a 4" long baby, even at 12 weeks. From that day on he was 100% pro-life. He always says that he has no idea how doctor's who perform abortions can live with themsleves. The girls dont see what comes out, but the doctors do.
2006-07-24 10:58:49 · answer #5 · answered by Melissa 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
well since it is not a viable life, they must treat it as an object inside a viable life. I know this does not seem right .. and it's not, however if the mother's life is in danger because of problems with the pregnancy.. high blood pressure, toxemia, kidney failure.. I think abortion MUST be done. Trust me NO woman wants to have it done, but in some cases it is neccesary for the life of the mother.. after all the baby can't live without her, not the other way around..
2006-07-24 10:59:23 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Exactly which part of the Hippocratic Oath says they must kill a human when requested to do so? Yes, I'm sure you don't agree that the fetus is a human; but not all doctors agree with you, either.
Oh, and also: where exactly is the Hippocratic Oath enforced? The state level? The federal level? Wherever it is, perhaps you should take your question there...
2006-07-24 10:57:01 · answer #7 · answered by M Huegerich 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
hypocratic oath...
do you mean the section that says they will administer no medications that will assist in death? it also says they will enter into the house of the ill... and that they will not act on anything illegal in nature.
abortion is not legal. health is in the eye of the beholder. and the life of a fetus is not thought to be viable outside of the uterus until 24 weeks gestation... hence, not a living, viable being until that point.
here's a link i think may answer more questions about abortion:
http://www.religioustolerance.org/abortion.htm
2006-07-24 11:02:59 · answer #8 · answered by JayneDoe 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
a million) it is the Hippocratic Oath. 2) no longer each and every person considers abortion to be killing a toddler. human beings in want of abortion - which include the medical doctors that carry out them - often believe that the unborn is only a fetus (no longer someone or toddler) until eventually start.
2016-11-25 22:00:05 · answer #9 · answered by ? 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The patient is the mother, and having an abortion is less risky than taking a pregnancy to full term.
2006-07-24 10:59:26 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋