1) I will respect and honor those currently teaching me, both inside and outside a formal teaching setting.
2) I will never forget the past lessons I have learned and the people who have helped me to learn them.
3) I will strive to learn something new every day. I won’t be closed off to trying new things unless they have the potential to injure or otherwise compromise my service to others, or have the possibility of seriously injuring myself or others, or in which the benefits do not outweigh the risks.
4) I will never forget that the people I serve and the patients I treat and work with are people and that they have their own unique set of scars, both physical and otherwise, that they bear that tell the stories of their lives as well as what they may be currently feeling. I will do my best to honor the person behind these scars and to respect the story that these scars tell.
5) I will show empathy to and encourage those I serve to the best of my abilities. If they are doing something that I perceive may be harmful to them, I will not be afraid to let them know and extend courtesy and support for them should they desire to change.
6) I will strive to forgive readily. I understand, in life, you will be hurt by people and that forgiveness has immense healing properties, both physically and otherwise.
7) I will strive to be an example to all what compassionate care entails.
8) I will remember that no person is perfect, and that even I will fall short sometimes. I refuse to hold others, including myself, to unrealistic expectations.
9) I will remember that there is great gift in life, and that I have the power to give it or take it away. I will never abuse this power, and I will honor each person’s right to life and death, that which is still within the constraints of law and ethics.
10) I will be grateful for every person I serve and treat, as any person can teach me a very valuable lesson. From the newborn baby to the frail, elderly person dying in their deathbed, I will remember that each life is valuable in God’s eyes. I will thank God for every opportunity to interact with people, especially when they transform me or they, themselves, are transformed. I will remember that these interactions are often fragile and can be broken at a whim, and will respect the decision of those that decide to go elsewhere for care, as it is their decision and within their boundaries, which I have no right to violate.
11) I will strive in making the person feel better, not just in improving a list of symptoms. I will be open to people’s desires and needs and will strive to meet them the best I can.
12) I will not be afraid to say, “I know not,” knowing that by being honest, I may risk losing or angering the patient. I pledge that this will not become a means of avoiding treatment. I also pledge to, when appropriate, follow these words up with either a referral to someone who can help, an explanation as to why further treatment is no longer necessary, or the willingness to learn more about its diagnosis and treatment, possibly in conjunction with the patient’s learning should they communicate a desire to learn.
13) I will not do unnecessary tests or prescribe medication as a means of making money off the patient. I will prescribe when I feel that the patient will benefit from the prescription.
14) I will not hesitate in saying no to something I feel is not in the patient’s best interest, be it procedure or drug.
15) I will offer the patient knowledge into their diagnosis when appropriate, and will not discourage them from doing their own research into their diagnosis and drugs. If the patient brings information before me that I feel is inaccurate, I will explain why it is inaccurate and provide correct information. If I feel that a patient has misinterpreted information, I will not be afraid to let them know this, and encourage them to think differently about what they have. I will strive not to withhold information that may be pertinent in their care, and I will present difficult information in a caring and empathic manner.
16) I will strive to allow patient input when appropriate. I will listen to the patient and will try to come to a consensus with them. If I deem a treatment or request inappropriate, I will offer an explanation and, when appropriate, a possible alternative. I will strive to help them understand why this may not be appropriate, and why another might be more appropriate, in a way and using language they understand.
17) I will not talk down to patients, as I do not desire to be talked down to as a patient. It would do me well to remember what it felt like to be a patient, and to avoid doing things that I would not want my physician to do to me as a patient.
18) I will remember that, in medicine, the roles are easily reversed. I may be treating people one day, and the next, I could end up being the patient. I will not forget the responsibilities that either patient or physician have, and will do my best to ease the burden on my doctor when I am put into the role of patient.
19) I will remember that medicine is an inexact science, and that certain treatments take time and many trials and errors to perfect. I will remember that each body is unique and will react differently to different procedures and drugs. I will be sensitive to any resulting pain and suffering, but I will also not do or prescribe anything unless I have a plan in place for what to do if things do not go as planned.
20) I will remember that my role is not only that of a healthcare worker, but that of a healer. While some people may need healing, I realize that others may not need healing. However, eventually all people will fail and will need a healer, and I will gratefully step up to this role. I will remember that people have emotional and psychological needs, and as a healer, I will respect and meet the needs the best way that I can.
21) I will not forget the transformative power of good health on people’s lives, and will be open to this power teaching me valuable lessons. I will strive to pass this transformative learning that has taken place in my life to people of various roles, patient, colleague, and even stranger.
