Eid und Ethos

‘Eid und Ethos’ (Oath and Ethics) presents a comprehensive discussion on the renaissance of the Hippocratic oath, particularly the one taken by doctors in Switzerland. For a long time, the Hippocratic oath was regarded as an outdated instrument of the establishment that was not appropriate for the modern healthcare sector. Now, there are growing indications that the increasing pressure exerted on the field of medicine by the market economy has started to undermine its professional ethics. Medical care has become subordinate to financial expectations, which is what is meant by the term ‘cost-cutting in healthcare’. This book outlines the developments which have led to this reversal of priorities, re-emphasises the essential duties of the medical profession and suggests a form of Hippocratic oath that has already been implemented in a number of institutions in Switzerland. It also appeals to the members of the medical fraternity to support the introduction of such an oath and uphold the dignity of their profession.