Lithotomy's prohibition and referral to experts in medical oaths of hippocratic stemma.

OBJECTIVE

The aim is to analyse how the Hippocratic Oath's commitments of not cutting for stone and referral to experts was modified in medical oaths of Hippocratic stemma from different time periods.

METHODS

Nineteen oaths of Hippocratic stemma were studied: 4 Medieval, 2 Modern, and 13 Contemporary. They were selected according to: name of the oath when it includes the word «Hippocratic» or because their authors recognized having based their oaths on the Hippocratic Oath. Their historical significance and representativity regarding time period, renowned medical schools, and importance and reliability of the sources was also taken into consideration.

RESULTS

Four oaths prohibit cutting for stone (one Medieval, 2 Modern, one Contemporary); 4 oaths mention seeking consultation about patients (all Contemporary); 3 mention not performing criminal operations (all Contemporary); 8 do not mention these commitments (3 Medieval, 5 Contemporary).

CONCLUSION

The commitment of the Hippocratic Oath of not cutting for stone and referral to experts has been modified mainly in Contemporary oaths. The original commitment seems to have been split into 2 tendencies: those that mention obtaining consultation, and those that refer to not performing criminal operations. Due to the bioethics movement in the second half of the 20th century, referring patients that exceed the physician's limitations to more skilled colleagues constitutes an ethical obligation. Thus, it should be a commitment present in every Contemporary oath.