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Esil Korkmaz

The Ineffective Effort To Remove “Sexual Orientation” From The Hippocratic Oath


The Hippocratic Oath, a venerable testament to the ethical underpinnings of medicine, has transcended centuries as a guiding light for healthcare practitioners worldwide. Its enduring significance lies not only in its historical roots but also in its timeless principles that continue to shape the moral compass of the medical profession. Central to this oath are values such as patient confidentiality, the commitment to do no harm, and the sacred duty to prioritize the well-being of those under a physician's care. As the cornerstone of medical ethics, the Hippocratic Oath serves as a foundational document that sets the standard for ethical conduct in healthcare. Its influence is not confined to mere symbolism; rather, it is deeply ingrained in the fabric of medical practice and has been integrated into legal frameworks across the globe. The breach of this oath not only carries ethical implications but can also have far-reaching legal consequences because, even though it isn’t legally binding, the acts that violate the oath are usually labeled as medical malpractice, underscoring the gravity of upholding its principles.


In the contemporary landscape of healthcare, national medical associations like the American Medical Association and the British General Medical Council have taken up the mantle of defining and enforcing ethical standards through comprehensive codes of conduct. These evolving codes, regularly updated to reflect the complexities of modern medicine, delineate the extensive duties and responsibilities that physicians owe to their patients and society at large.


Amidst the intricacies of these elaborate codes, there has been a discernible shift towards distilling their essence into succinct oaths that encapsulate the core values of medical ethics. Modern adaptations of the Hippocratic Oath have emerged, serving as contemporary affirmations of physicians' commitments to integrity, compassion, and professionalism. While some adaptations may take a satirical tone, they nonetheless underscore the enduring relevance of the oath as a beacon for ethical medical practice in an ever-evolving healthcare landscape.


In essence, the Hippocratic Oath stands as a testament to the enduring principles that underpin the practice of medicine, transcending time and cultural boundaries to uphold the sanctity of the patient-physician relationship. As medical ethics continue to evolve, the essence of this oath remains a steadfast reminder of the moral imperatives that guide healthcare professionals in their noble pursuit of healing and alleviating suffering.

However, with new developments on the issue, it seems that this essence is starting to be lost or is being forced to be forgotten, at least in Türkiye.


The news surrounding the matter dropped to X, formerly known as Twitter, last week which caused a huge backlash from almost all communities. In the graduation of Ordu University Medicine Faculty, the oath was in a way censored. The “sexual orientation” detail was taken out of the newest 2006 version of the oath that normally read “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". Many people believe the censored part was clearly removed with homophobic intentions, while everything else was left intact. It's concerning to note that this incident occurred during June—which is also known as Pride Month and arose from influential pride parades such as the Stonewall Riot—giving the impression to most citizens that the censorship was a deliberate response to the normalization of queerness and a disrespect to the people who have lost their lives fighting for the rights of the LGBTQ+ community. The LGBTQ+ community's fight for equal rights has been around for a long time and is still going on. Society is past the times when it was the law for all queers to be arrested, and even though this fight has been bloody and oppressive at times, the LGBTQ+ community is much closer to equal rights than they were before. Therefore the fact that the Hippocratic oath, which aims to promote equality and justice, was altered and used for the purpose of pushing a specific agenda regarding queerness is deeply troubling.


However, these intentions were not successful as the new graduates read the unaltered version of the oath, although they were warned many times not to. The parents also gave encouragement to the students by whistling and clapping. Even though the students did what they thought was right, they were eventually punished for their behavior. After the ceremony, there was supposed to be a cocktail party, but the party was later canceled by assistant dean Tuba Gül because the students chose to disobey the instructions. The preparations that were already done for the party were quickly removed, which only confirmed the idea that the alteration to the oath was made purely out of queer hate or discrimination.


The Turkish Medical Association went on X on May 22nd to congratulate their young colleagues for sticking up against the alteration of the oath and reading the original version. They also stated, "The Geneva Declaration of the World Medical Association is common and binding for all physicians. In the physician-patient relationship, no definition other than being human can be a reason for privilege or discrimination for the patient. For this reason, the Physician Code of Medicine, which every physician reads when starting their profession, reveals that the physician can only approach his patient as a human being. Forcing physician candidates to read the oath by deleting, adding, or changing it is an ethical violation and a crime."


It is worth noting that the exclusion of the "sexual orientation" component from the oath has not been a singular incident. Prior occurrences were observed during the graduations of the Çapa University Medical Faculty in 2022 and 2023, as well as the Sakarya University Medicine Faculty in 2021. Despite facing pressure to accept altered versions of the oath, students in all cases stood firm in their principles and chose to recite the original oath in its entirety.


These acts of defiance serve as a testament to the unwavering commitment of these students to inclusivity and equality within their profession. By rejecting the modified oaths and adhering to the original wording, they made a clear statement that discrimination based on sexual orientation has no place in the medical community.

Such instances highlight the importance of upholding the principles of diversity and respect within the field of medicine. It is through these actions that these students not only advocate for the rights of all individuals, regardless of sexual orientation but also set a powerful example for future healthcare professionals to follow.

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