Physician's Oaths

Honor physicians for their services,
for the Lord created them;
for their gift of healing comes from the Most High,
and they are rewarded by the king.
The skill of physicians makes them distinguished,
and in the presence of the great they are admired.
The Lord created medicines out of the earth,
and the sensible will not despise them.
..........................................................
. . . give the physician his place, for the Lord created him;
do not let him leave you, for you need him.
There may come a time when recovery lies in the hands of physicians,
for they too pray to the Lord
that he will grant them success in diagnosis
and in healing, for the sake of preserving life.
He who sins against his Maker
will be defiant towards the physician.
--Sirach 38: 1-3, 12-15
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Charles S. Yanofsky has complied a series of physician's oaths. What's interesting is how they each ground their medical ethical commitments in differing metaphysical ways. His own reflections at the bottom of the page are worth reflecting on and disagreeing with in some cases. To me, a fundamental discussion of health care should begin with what its purpose and role is under God in relation to human beings:

1. How does the Trinitarian nature of our faith shape our view of the community's role in health care?
2. How does the ecclesial shape of our Christian experience speak to health care?
3. How does our understanding of human beings as the imago dei guide our views on health care as a service and potentially as a gift?
4. How does a Christian view of economy, ecology, culture, and market shape our treatment of the social and ethical realities of modern health care?