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'I will not cut . . . ': the oath that defined urology.
1Department of Urology, Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, Weill Cornell Medical College, New York, NY, USA. herrh@mskcc.org
BJU International
|July 24, 2008
Summary
The Hippocratic Oath prohibited surgery for stones, defining urology as the first medical specialty. This historical context highlights the evolution of specialized medical practices.
Area of Science:
- Medical History
- Surgical Ethics
Background:
- The Hippocratic Oath contains a clause prohibiting surgery for stones.
- Interpretations of this clause have varied throughout history.
Observation:
- Review of various translations of the Oath, from ancient Greek to later revisions, reveals controversy.
- Ancient healers had differing views on lithotomy (stone surgery).
Findings:
- The prohibition was likely due to the complexity of lithotomy, with physicians pledging not to perform it if untrained.
- Physicians were expected to refer patients to specialists in lithotomy.
Implications:
- The Hippocratic Oath's restriction on lithotomy inadvertently identified and legitimized urology as the first medical specialty.
- This historical precedent underscores the importance of specialized training and ethical considerations in medicine.
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