[The new medical oath in The Netherlands]

The Hippocratic oath derives its name from the ancient Greek physician Hippocrates. It has been embraced as a code of conduct by the medical profession throughout the ages, and is used by medical faculties as an explicit moment of reflection during graduation ceremonies. Although this oath is primarily of ceremonial value, it was felt that the text needed revision as it no longer reflected the current ethical norms in the Netherlands. The new Dutch oath drawn up in 2003 has a dual function: it is symbolic in that it represents the end of a doctor's training, but it is also intended to trigger the discussion of moral issues during the medical studies.