The Benefit of the Patient in the Hippocratic Oath and the Golden Rule of Christian Ethics
The Benefit of the Patient in the Hippocratic Oath and the Golden Rule of Christian Ethics

Author(s): Marlena Zerva
Subject(s): Philosophy, Social Sciences, Ethics / Practical Philosophy, Sociology, Theology and Religion, Religion and science , Philosophy of Religion, Health and medicine and law, Sociology of Religion, Psychology of Religion
Published by: Editura Doxologia
Keywords: Bioethics; Golden Rule of Christian Ethics; Hippocratic Oath; Benefit of the Patient; Beneficence and Non-maleficence;
Summary/Abstract: Modern medical science aims at the benefit of the patient which is achieved through the treatment of the patient. The physician must act in the best interest of the patient and consequently his health. In an ideal world every doctor besides treating a patient would also love him. In this text, there will be examined two fundamental ethical imperatives that can be applied in the doctor – patient relationship. On the one hand the position, do not do unto others as you would not like to do unto you, on the other hand the positive formulation of that sentence which is, do to others whatever you would like them to do to you. The first of those two positions can be found in the ancient oath of Hippocrates, whereas the second position is the basis of the Golden Rule of Christian ethics. These two ethical imperatives will be examined in the context of modern bioethics as well, since the benefit of the patient is the major concern of two of its basic principles, namely the principle of beneficence and that of non-maleficence. The oath of Hippocrates moves in the realm of the moral idea that you should not do to others what you do not want to be done to yourself. The above position is based on the affirmative propositions that are imprinted within the oath. On the other hand, the Golden Rule of Christian ethics consists of a positive exhortation, to do to the other what you would like to happen to you. Each Christian is called to love his fellowman as he loves himself, since the supreme good in Christian morality is the love of God and fellowman that fulfills the purpose of man’s existence, which is the communion with God. Both positions examined in the text have relevant content, aiming at the benefit of the patient, the patients good, either by a direct positive obligation, or by preventing the doctor from harming the patient.

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