First Do No Harm - Did Hippocrates Break His Own Oath?

The Hippocratic Oath is one of the most widely known ancient medical documents. Revered and revolutionary, it laid out a code of ethics for physicians – one that is used today, albeit modified. It’s supposed author and namesake enjoys even greater respect. Hippocrates is the beloved venerated doctor whose contributions to the medical field and his pioneering approach to his craft has earned him the accolade of the ‘father of medicine.’ Indeed, he is credited with the beginnings of western medicine.

Primum non nocere – first do no harm – is closely associated with this ancient Greek doctor… but did he really do no harm?

Founder and Director of Classical Wisdom, Anya Leonard, delves into the truth of the man, his work and his legacy, and asks is Hippocrates really worth the hype? And whom his work really hurt...

Anya Leonard is the founder of Classical Wisdom and Project Director. She has a MA. in Sociology from University of Edinburgh and studied at St. John’s College in Annapolis with a double major in Philosophy and the History of Math of Science. She lives and writes from all over the world.