Confusion prevails over oath of medical ethics

An unnecessary controversy has been created over the issue of whether the medical practitioners should take the Hippocratic Oath or the Charak Oath. The controversy started when the country's apex medical education regulator, the National Medical Commission (NMC), in February this year, took up the topic of replacing Hippocratic Oath with Charak Oath, which was opposed by the doctors citing various issues with the Charak Oath. The controversy on whether the medical practitioners should take the Hippocratic Oath or Charak Oath while beginning their practice gained momentum earlier this year with students from some of the institutions taking the Charak Oath and a section of the medical practitioners taking strong objection to it. The NMC later issued a modified Charak Oath with eight points, but the controversy has refused to subside.

Hippocratic Oath has its origin to the Greek Physician 'Hippocrates'. It is believed that it was composed in the fourth Century BCE by Hippocrates who is now regarded as the Father of Western Medicine. Though much is not known about the original oath but is widely accepted. Its first use outside Greece was at the University of Wittenberg, Germany, in 1508. In 18th Century, the oath was translated into English. The association with healing Gods like Apollo and Asclepius is gradually removed from the oath. The remaining content is also revised.

The medical sciences have undergone huge transformation with time and development of other related sciences. Currently, emphasis is on diagnostic tools rather than the physician's observation. Charak Shapath (Charak Oath) has its origin to Charak Samhita believed to have composed between 100 BCE to 200 CE. Charak Shapath is a set of instructions from a teacher to the prospective medical students. Charak was the ancient physician of India who has written Charak Samhita. NMC circular for implementation of new competency based MBBS programme states that Modified 'Maharishi Charak Shapath' is recommended when a candidate is introduced to medical education.

The issue got further momentum when the Department-related Parliamentary Standing Committee on the Union Health and Family Welfare recently asking the Union Ministry of Ayush to remove the prevailing confusion of the Ayush medical practitioners on whether they would take the Hippocratic Oath or Charak Oath. In its latest report, the Parliamentary Committee said that it is not happy with the response of the Ministry in regard to the suggestion of the Committee for taking up the matter to the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare to resolve the burning question relating to the swearing in process by doctors wherein there is confusion whether the Ayush doctors would take the Hippocratic Oath or the Charak Oath. The Ministry, to an earlier recommendation in the same line from the Committee, responded that as far as Siddha system of Medicine is concerned, the oath prescribed by Siddhars will be

taken by Siddha doctors to avoid confusion. The National Institute of Siddha presently follows the system of taking Hippocratic Oath for its Bachelor of Siddha Medicine and Surgery and MD (Siddha) students while their degrees are awarded. It added that the Ministry through its concern section may take up the matter with MoHFW and it is proposed that Aysuh doctors may take the Charak Oath. When it comes to the National Institute of Homoeopathy, the Ministry said that the principles concerning Homoeopathic subjects are mainly related to the Modern System of Medicine, but Homoeopathy is a part of the Ministry of Ayush so Hippocratic Oath is being taken.

Though the NMC circular is not for replacing the traditional Hippocratic Oath, there are apprehensions all around about this. Even if the Hippocratic Oath is replaced it is not going to matter as there have been several changes of the original Hippocratic Oath over time. It could be accepted as restoring honour to our ancient great physician 'Charak'. So, changing or replacing Hippocratic Oath by Charak Shapath should not be seen as offensive as it is also a recognition to our ancient physician, Charak, who is also known as father of medicine. Some say, he was the father of Ayurvedic Medicines. At the time of Charak, there was no other system of medicine. Now, utter confusion prevails over whether the medical practitioners should take the Hippocratic Oath or the Charak Oath. The government should clear the air on the issue without any delay.

(The author is freelance journalist with varied experience in different fields)