Contemporary Medical Students' Perceptions of the Hippocratic Oath

Area of Science:

• Medical Ethics
• Medical Education

Background:

• The Hippocratic Oath is a foundational standard in medical ethics.
• Adaptations of the Hippocratic Oath are increasingly common in medical schools.
• This study evaluates medical students' perceptions of the original oath's relevance and application.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess graduating medical students' views on the Hippocratic Oath's relevance.
• To determine student preferences for the original versus modified versions of the oath.
• To investigate whether students believe a choice of oath versions should be offered.

Main Methods:

• A survey was administered to graduating medical students at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) Medical School.
• The survey addressed the oath's relevance, content, application, and the desirability of offering different versions.
• Statistical analysis was used to correlate knowledge of the oath's content with student preferences.

Main Results:

• 79% of students found the original Hippocratic Oath relevant, but most preferred a modified version.
• Knowledge of the original oath's content, including prohibitions on euthanasia and abortion, was approximately 68%.
• Increased knowledge of the original oath correlated with a decreased desire to use it (p = .02).

Conclusions:

• A majority of students favor an adapted oath over the original, a trend linked to greater awareness of its specific tenets.
• The findings highlight a concerning disconnect between the historical importance of the Hippocratic Oath and current student preferences.
• Enhanced education on the Hippocratic Oath is recommended to address complex ethical issues in modern medicine.