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Office of Student Affairs 
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Commencement 2004The Hippocratic Oath Remarks by Associate Dean Ludwig Edelstein, a classics scholar and medical historian, traces the origin of the Hippocratic Oath to the fourth century B.C. and to the Pythagorean School. He believes that it has survived through the ages as “the nucleus of all medical ethics” because it has been accepted by physicians of all religions and traditions as “the embodiment of truth.” Its acceptance, however, has not been without controversy, including among the members of this Class of 2004 In the mid 1800s, graduation pledges, often a version of the Hippocratic Oath, became commonplace in United States medical schools. There have been cycles of disinterest followed by renewal of interest in the Hippocratic Oath throughout the years. It has been criticized as being archaic, out of sync with modern practice and beliefs and for relying on an ethic of beneficence—of physicians being in charge of what “being good” to our patients means. However, the fact that it has survived in one version or another speaks to our desire to locate the ethical core of the practice of medicine and to declare to our patients that we hold ourselves to this ethical tradition. In the 1970s, pledging the traditional Hippocratic Oath was discontinued at Yale medical school. In the l980s it was reintroduced and, in 1990, at the request of the then-Dean of Students Bob Gifford, a group of students along with Chaplain Alan Mermann developed the Yale Physician’s Oath in response to a desire to modernize the oath. The Yale Physician’s Oath, modeled on the Hippocratic Oath, was taken for the first time in 1991 and for the last time in 1999. In 2000 we began a new tradition. Recognizing that in the overwhelming spirit of joy and celebration of Commencement students would say almost anything that was put in front of them, it became important to ensure that students stop and think about these words that they promise their parents, teachers and future patients. So each class since the Class of 2000, starting in March of their final year, has met to choose or write the oath they would pledge. Each class has met to consult, consider, e-mail, remark upon, debate and finally decide on an oath. In the course of this debate, they considered the sacred trust between physician and patient that is the basis of the practice of medicine. They considered the moral foundation of this practice that they enter today. They considered and weighed the words they wish to say. They also considered each other. They considered each other in the way that true colleagues do. They insisted that everyone’s views be respected and heard. The Class of 2004 has chosen to return to the Yale Physician’s Oath written over a decade ago. One of the things special about this oath is its faithfulness to the promise made in the original Hippocratic Oath to become future teachers of medicine. A paradox of the practice of medicine is that we linger as students briefly but forever as learners. The best of us is always learning but also teaching. This class honors the passing on of the knowledge and the art of medicine in its gift to the Yale Society for Distinguished Teachers. This class honors the dedication to teaching and mentoring of Joe Craft, Auguste Fortin, Jim Perlotto, Barry Wu, Ashwin Balagopal, Raj Krishnamurthy and Eve Colson. Also this class honors the selfless contributions of all of their thesis advisors, laboratory preceptors and attendings, the faculty members who have met with them to discuss ideas, counsel them on career choices, coach them on presentations and inspire their interest groups. In addition to providing compassionate, knowledgeable care to patients and contributing new knowledge to science, teaching and becoming teachers is what Yale is about. So it follows that the Class of 2004 chooses an oath that promises to “impart my knowledge gladly.” Please follow along on the back inside cover of your Commencement booklet as the Class of 2004 takes the Yale Physician’s Oath. This will be followed by a moment of silence, an opportunity for additional personal thoughts, pledges and silent recitations. Will the Class of 2004 please stand.
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