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But the main thrust of Lee's response, his citation of the Hippocratic oath, is also problematic. The Hippocratic oath, in either its classical or a commonly used modern form, does not say anything about doctors being obliged to help any ailing person who requests their assistance. The closest it comes to stating such an obligation is in the following excerpts:
I will apply dietetic measures for the benefit of the sick according to my ability and judgment; I will keep them from harm and injustice.4
(Classical version, trans. Ludwig Edelstein)
I will apply, for the benefit of the sick, all measures [that] are required, avoiding those twin traps of overtreatment and therapeutic nihilism.5
(A modern version written by Louis Lasagna, used in some medical schools today)
In taking either of these oaths, doctors promise to apply certain measures for the benefit of the sick. But this simply means that as long as they apply measures for the benefit of some sick people, they have fulfilled the conditions of the oath. They do not need to apply those measures to all sick people, nor is there anything in the oath stating that they have to apply those measures to all sick people who request their assistance. Unless Lee has in mind a significantly different version or interpretation of the Hippocratic oath, it is safe to say that the Hippocratic oath does not oblige Singapore doctors to give medical assistance to Burmese political leaders.
- http://www.singaporeangle.com/p/2007/10/there_has_recently_been_some.html
I will apply dietetic measures for the benefit of the sick according to my ability and judgment; I will keep them from harm and injustice.4
(Classical version, trans. Ludwig Edelstein)
I will apply, for the benefit of the sick, all measures [that] are required, avoiding those twin traps of overtreatment and therapeutic nihilism.5
(A modern version written by Louis Lasagna, used in some medical schools today)
In taking either of these oaths, doctors promise to apply certain measures for the benefit of the sick. But this simply means that as long as they apply measures for the benefit of some sick people, they have fulfilled the conditions of the oath. They do not need to apply those measures to all sick people, nor is there anything in the oath stating that they have to apply those measures to all sick people who request their assistance. Unless Lee has in mind a significantly different version or interpretation of the Hippocratic oath, it is safe to say that the Hippocratic oath does not oblige Singapore doctors to give medical assistance to Burmese political leaders.
- http://www.singaporeangle.com/p/2007/10/there_has_recently_been_some.html
