<P> The Hippocratic Oath is an oath historically taken by physicians . It is one of the most widely known of Greek medical texts . In its original form, it requires a new physician to swear, by a number of healing Gods, to uphold specific ethical standards . The Oath is the earliest expression of medical ethics in the Western world, establishing several principles of medical ethics which remain of paramount significance today . These include the principles of medical confidentiality and non-maleficence . Although the ancient text is only of historic and symbolic value, swearing a modified form of the Oath remains a rite of passage for medical graduates in many countries . </P> <P> Hippocrates is often called the father of medicine in Western culture . The original oath was written in Ionic Greek, between the fifth and third centuries BC . It is usually included in the Hippocratic Corpus . </P>

The earliest written code of ethical principles of medicine is called the