Our commitment to our profession is expressed in the Declaration of Geneva or in the Hippocratic oath updated to include women.
The World Medical Association, started using Declaration of Geneva in 2006 and I believe all our Medical Schools now use a form of this at graduation.
I solemnly pledge to consecrate my life to the service of humanity;
I will give to my teachers the respect and gratitude that is their due;
I will practise my profession with conscience and dignity;
The health of my patient will be my first consideration;
I will respect the secrets that are confided in me, even after the patient has died;
I will maintain, by all the means in my power, the honour and the noble traditions of the medical profession;
My colleagues will be my sisters and brothers;
I will not permit considerations of age, disease or disability, creed, ethnic origin, gender, nationality, political affiliation, race, sexual orientation, social standing or any other factor to intervene between my duty and my patient;
I will maintain the utmost respect for human life;
I will not use my medical knowledge to violate human rights and civil liberties, even under threat;
I make these promises solemnly, freely and upon my honour.
This week has been so sad with the horrors of the world news, particularly this week in the Middle East, but not forgetting Ukraine, Ethiopia, Syria, Yemen, and Burma. What has saddened me as deeply has been the unacceptable hate speech appearing in our own country. This has been evident in the passionate responses to the Middle East situation, but also evident in these last days before the referendum.
As we try to comprehend the pain of those more deeply affected by the world’s wars, it sems an appropriate time to reaffirm our underlying principles as members of medical profession and AFMW.
Here in Australia, as we vote in the referendum let us be the doctors we have trained to be and listen carefully to what is being asked of us by those most affected.
AFMW is apolitical and we strive to affirm equality and equity without racism and all other forms of intolerance.
Individually and together, we cannot be bystanders to hate speech and we need to always place the health of our patients and community first, as we “consecrate our lives to the service of humanity.”
Dr Marjorie Cross, OAM
AFMW Council member
AFMW representative for ACT and Region MWS
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