Graduates read full version of medical vow despite dean censoring 'sexual orientation'

Click to read the article in Turkish

At this year's graduation ceremony of the İstanbul University Medical Faculty on Tuesday (June 20), when the medical vow was read out, the text was censored by the dean to leave out the expression "sexual orientation."

The graduating students, however, did not allow this to take place and read out the full version of the oath.

The Medicine Students branch of the Turkish Medical Association shared the video from their Twitter account and wrote, "Any change on the medical oath is an ethical violation and crime that can cause discrimination.

"We wish to remind all faculty administrations: Declaration of Geneva is common and binding for all physicians. The medical oath has to be read out as it is in the Declaration of Geneva. We invite all our colleagues to protect the values of the physicians."

Çapa Tıp Fakültesi mezuniyet töreninde Hekimlik Andı okunurken cinsel yönelim ifadesini dekan sansürledi. Tıp öğrencisi sıra arkadaşlarımız sansüre geçit vermedi, andı eksiksiz biçimde okudu.

Hekimlik andı üzerinde ayrımcılığa yol açabilecek her değişiklik etik ihlal ve suçtur! pic.twitter.com/RnTgPqoOdK

— Tıp Öğrencileri Kolu (@ttbtok) June 21, 2023

Declaration of Geneva

The Declaration of Geneva was adopted by the General Assembly of the World Medical Association in Geneva in 1948, and amended in 1968, 1983, and 1994.

It is a declaration of a physician's dedication to the humanitarian goals of medicine, a declaration that was especially important in view of the medical crimes that were committed especially in Europe in the period before 1948.

The Declaration of Geneva was intended as a revision of the Hippocratic Oath to a formulation of that oath's moral truths that could be comprehended and acknowledged in a modern way.

The Declaration of Geneva as currently published by the World Medical Association reads:

AS A MEMBER OF THE MEDICAL PROFESSION:

I SOLEMNLY PLEDGE to dedicate my life to the service of humanity;
THE HEALTH AND WELL-BEING OF MY PATIENT will be my first consideration;
I WILL RESPECT the autonomy and dignity of my patient;
I WILL MAINTAIN the utmost respect for human life;
I WILL NOT PERMIT considerations of age, disease or disability, creed, ethnic origin, gender, nationality, political affiliation, race, sexual orientation, social standing or any other factor to intervene between my duty and my patient;
I WILL RESPECT the secrets that are confided in me, even after the patient has died;
I WILL PRACTICE my profession with conscience and dignity and in accordance with good medical practice;
I WILL FOSTER the honour and noble traditions of the medical profession;
I WILL GIVE to my teachers, colleagues, and students the respect and gratitude that is their due;
I WILL SHARE my medical knowledge for the benefit of the patient and the advancement of healthcare;
I WILL ATTEND TO my own health, well-being, and abilities in order to provide care of the highest standard;
I WILL NOT USE my medical knowledge to violate human rights and civil liberties, even under threat;
I MAKE THESE PROMISES solemnly, freely and upon my honour.

(EMK/PE)