For more than twenty-four centuries physicians have been guided in their professional practice by an ethical compass, The Hippocratic Oath. Administered at commencement, this long-serving oath contains both antiquarian and tradition elements.  Of only historical interest and emblematic of the antiquarian elements, is the initial invocation of the pagan gods to witness to the truth of the oath to be sworn. 

No longer do physicians entrust their patients or their own personal integrity to the patronage of Apollo, Aesculapius, Hygea or Panacea. However, placing no trust in idols only validates and strengthens traditional elements of the oath that have been honored and affirmed throughout the centuries.  For example, physicians have always sworn to uphold the confidences of their patients, to teach others and not to abuse the doctor-patient relationship by seeking personal sexual favors.  These elements of the traditional oath are as true today as they were in the time of their author.

Alarmingly , in recent decades with parallel confused cultural norms, the integrity of this professional oath has been compromised by the unauthorized abandonment of two of its explicit traditional elements.  For 24 centuries physicians have swore to neither perform abortion nor commit active euthanasia, even on request. These promises have been replaced nowadays with the ambivalent sworn promise new physicians make to "perform no procedure for a criminal purpose." This abdication of medical ethics to the legislative and judicial branches of government replaces the explicit prohibitions against abortion and deliberate killing of patients and goes a long way to support the "culture of death."

Until the time honored traditions of medical practice can be restored a conscience clause in legislation impacting medicine is needed to protect both patients and the personal integrity of their physicians.  Without this safeguard, the ethical compass will continue to spin. Physicians will, more and more, be pressured to practice according to an unspoken veterinarian's oath that places "the good of society" and "resource management" above the good of individual patients.