this post was submitted on 19 Oct 2023
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The Hippocratic oath kinda cracks me up, cuz we break it almost immediately at the start of most procedures by shoving a needle or scalpel into the skin.
I guess "do only necessary harm that will presumably heal in a way that results in a net positive" doesn't roll off the tongue quite as well.
Anyway, we fixed your appendicitis! damns you to a life of poverty with a bill that absolutely destroys your financial health
Its more “like first weigh the possible harm versus the potential benefit and do not pursue treatment avenues that are more likely to harm than do good”. If it were truly just “first do no harm”, medicine would not be practicable, because any intervention carries risks of some nature, don’t even get me started on oncology.
It is also worth noting that “first do no harm” is not even all that close to the wording of the actual oath, originally it is in fact more like what I typed out above.
The original hippocratic oath, by hippocrates, also forbids doing abortions on consenting women.
Look on the bright side - we've made a good half-step of progress since then!