Hippocratic oath needs an update
As a doctor of philosophy specializing in economics and the quality of life, I have had ample opportunity in recent decades to observe the rise of our $2 trillion sickcare/health care industry and its component parts — physicians, nurses, techs, administrative personnel, insurance companies, hospitals, pharmacy networks, governmental entities, lobbyists, lawyers, media, etc.
Nothing is perfect, and meliorists believe most people/data/things can be improved. The scholar-poet H.W. Longfellow had faith that a song breathed into the air might possible inspire. It is in this spirit I offer the following six haiku constituting what I have termed a new Hippocratic oath.
Ÿ A good physician/before all else must be a/good human being
Ÿ Physicians should be/respectful listeners and good/communicators
Ÿ Physicians must treat/patients as human persons/not just as body parts
Ÿ No physician should/be in thrall to finance and/computer systems
Ÿ Licensed physicians/trade quality service for/money and status
Ÿ Physicians owe both/competence and compassion/to all their patients
Robert L. Darcy
Wheaton