The Hippocratic Oath appears to be the earliest example of a code of medical ethics. It's believed to have been written by the Greek physician Hippocrates sometime in the 4th century B.C.E.. Although it's still taken by a large number of physicians and medical students, although it's not legally binding and has largely been replaced by modern codes of ethics.
The oath consists of the following:
- The physicians calls on the Greek gods that oversee his profession: Apollo, Asclepius, Hygieia, and Panacea
- To be faithful to the physician who taught him the craft
- To make prescriptions for the benefit of patients
- To never do harm
- To not engage in euthanasia
- To not provide a drug that will induce an abortion
- To not engage in surgery (surgery being a separate skilled craft at the time)
- Not to have sex with patients or members of the patient's household
- To keep the confidences of patients
Violations[]
Throughout the series in Season 4 House, Amber, Cuddy, or Foreman fired or forced to quit several interns for violations.
- Henry Dobson: Fired by House for faking his medical licence. Guardian Angels
- Mason: Fired by House for revealing personal information to Cuddy. The Right Stuff
- Travis Brennan: Forced to quit for giving Casey Alfonso Thallium poisoning and not listening to Foreman, Cuddy, or Amber when House was away. Whatever It Takes
- The Twins: Fired by House and Cuddy for killing a patient. 97 Seconds
- Jodi Desai: Fired by House for the same reason The Twins got fired killing a patient. 97 Seconds