Doctors pass pro-life resolution

October 4, 2003

MATTERS OF LIFE AND DEATH

Group says Hippocratic oath forbids abortion

----------

----

Posted: October 4, 2003

1:00 a.m. Eastern

A national physician's group has approved a pro-life resolution at its

annual meeting, stating the doctors' Hippocratic oath does not allow them to

perform abortions.

The American Association of Physicians and Surgeons, at its 60th annual

meeting in Point Clear, Ala., last month, adopted a platform that " clearly

opposes " the procedure and recognizes the " teachings of the major religions

of the world have [also] opposed abortion of a developing human child until

very recent times. "

" Even if religion is removed from the issue of abortion of a human child,

without life as the ultimate ethic, no objective ethical standard remains, "

said the resolution.

The Tucson, Ariz.-based physician's group says it is " dedicated to the

highest ethical standards of the Oath of Hippocrates and to preserving the

sanctity of the patient-physician relationship and the practice of private

medicine. " The group's motto is " omnia pro aegroto, " which means " all for

the patient. "

The oath, which is still taken by today's physicians, was written by Greek

physician Hippocrates. He became known as the founder of modern medicine and

was regarded as the greatest physician of his time. He believed the body

must be treated as a whole, not just a series of individual parts or

systems.

" The purpose of abortion of a human child is to destroy the life of the

child, in contradistinction to other terminations of pregnancy to save the

life of the mother, in which an attempt would also be made to save the life

of the child, " says the AAPS resolution.

" Be it resolved the Association of American Physicians and Surgeons supports

the right to life of human beings from the moment of conception to natural

death, " the resolution concludes.

Recommended Posts