Hippocratic Oath vs Charak Shapath

IndiGlobal Media Bureau
Kaniza Garari

Indian Medical Association does not want a controversy to be created over Hippocratic Oath. IMA is keen to approach the Union Health Ministry and request them to continue with Hippocratic Oath for modern medicine or allopathic doctors.

National President of IMA Dr Sahajanand Prasad Singh says, “All the state presidents are meeting in New Delhi on February 20^th. We are going to request the Union Health Ministry to continue with Hippocratic Oath for the modern medicine doctors. We do not want it to become a controversy.”

National Medical Commission which looks into the education of medical colleges in India is said to be considering a proposal to replace Hippocratic Oath with Charak Shapath.

Hippocratic Oath is given to modern medicine doctors during the convocation ceremony. This oath is taken by all doctors of modern medicine irrespective of the country of origin.

The oath is a path of Declaration of Geneva and is one of the oldest policies of World Medical Association. India is also a part of the Declaration and this oath is taken by all the modern medicine doctors.

Charak Shapath is taken by graduating doctors from Ayurveda.

To make modern medicine doctors take the oath of Ayurveda medicine is not justified. It is being seen as a step to mix the two medicine streams. This underlying motive has got modern medicine doctors fuming as they believe it is one step towards mixopathy.

Dr Prabhu Kumar C, branch President of the newly formed IMA Banjara Hills in Telangana and Co-Chairman Action and Quackery Committee in the state says, “There is no sense in making modern medicine doctors take the proposed Charak Shapath. It is for those who study that medicine. Every stream of medicine has its own significance and world over it is respected and honoured.”

IMA doctors opine that these are backdoor tactics to bring in AYUSH stream into the forefront. Instead of the government concentrating on strengthening healthcare infrastructure and looking into the health needs of the population these steps to divert attention are being taken up.

IMA wants the focus must be on the changing needs of patient care with digital interventions and also improving the existing infrastructure. These are the need of the hour and government must focus on health as it is an issue which determines the quality of life.

Highlights:

• There are 500 medical colleges in India and the Convocation Ceremony in one college can set a precedent for Charak Shapath
• Hippocratic Oath is stated to be a remarkable historic document containing important elements for medical ethics which is a timeless medical code and its validity stands against all historical arguments.
• It has nothing to do with caste, creed, religion or country borders and is purely scientific and medical in its character.