A　Useful Vocabulary

B　Topic Discussion

　　1. What should a doctor do for his patients?

　　2. What, in your opinion, can make a qualified doctor?

The Hippocratic Oath

　　1 I swear by Apollo the physician, by Asclepius and Hygieia and Panaceia, and I take to witness all the gods, all the goddesses, to keep according to my ability and my judgement, the following Oath.

　　2 “To consider dear to me as my parents him who taught me this art; to live in common with him and if necessary to share my goods with him; to look upon his children as my own brothers, to teach them this art if they so desire without fee or written promise; to impart to my sons and the sons of the master who taught me and the disciples who have enrolled themselves and have agreed to the rules of the profession, but to these alone the precepts and the instruction. I will prescribe regimen for the good of my patients according to my ability and my judgment and never do harm to anyone. To please no one will I prescribe a deadly drug, nor give advice which may cause his death. Nor will I give a woman a pessary to procure abortion. But I will preserve the purity of my life and my art. I will not cut for stone, even for patients in whom the disease is manifest; I will leave this operation to be performed by practitioners, specialists in this art. In every house where I come I will enter only for the good of my patients, keeping myself far from all intentional ill-doing and all seduction and especially from the pleasures of love with women or with men, be they free or slaves. All that may come to my knowledge in the exercise of my profession or in daily commerce with men, which ought not to be spread abroad, I will keep secret and will never reveal. If I keep this oath faithfully, may I enjoy my life and practice my art, respected by all men and in all times; but if I swerve from it or violate it, may the reverse be my lot.”

　　1. Hippocrates: a Greek physician born in 460 B. C. on the island of Cos, Greece. He became known as the founder of medicine and was regarded as the greatest physician of his time.

　　2. Apollo: one of the great Greek divinities, associated with light, truth and prophecy.

3. Asclepius: child of Apollo, the "father" of medicine.

4. Hygieia and Panaceia: the names mean "health", "living well "and" healing all," daughters of Asclepius, associated with what modern readers might call "prevention" and "treatment."

1. Reading comprehension: Choose the correct answer according to the text.

　　1) Which is not true about Hippocrates?

　　　A. He was a great physician.

　　　B. He was born in Greece.

　　　C. He was regarded as the forefather of medicine.

　　　D. He travelled all over the world to practice medicine.

　　2) What do the two names of "Hygieia" and "Panaceia" mean respectively?

　　　A. cleanness; wellbeing

　　　B. hygiene; welfare

　　　C. health; healing all

　　　D. tidiness; treating all

　　3) Who does the word "him" refer to in the sentence "To consider dear to me as my parents him who taught me this art"?

　　　A. The father of medicine.

　　　B. The teacher.

　　　C. Hippocrates.

　　　D. The disciple.

　　4) What does the word "art" mean in the sentence "To consider dear to me as my parents him who taught me this art"?

　　　A. Human's creativity.

　　　B. Creative thinking.

　　　C. Skill and knowledge of being a physician.

　　　D. Talent and knack.

　　5) According to the text, who could be taught medical knowledge in the time when Hippocratic Oath was written?

　　　A. The sons of physicians and those who enrolled in medicine and adhered to the rules of the profession.

　　　B. The general public.

　　　C. Only the sons of physicians.

　　　D. The sons of physicians' teachers.

　　6) Which of the following may cause harm to patients according to the text?

　　　A. Physicians prescribed regimen to patients.

　　　B. Physicians never gave advice to end patients' life.

　　　C. Physicians cut for stone if necessary.

　　　D. Physicians refused to help a woman have abortion.

　　7) Why cannot I cut for stone even for a patient whose disease is obvious according to the text?

　　　A. Because I am not confident.

　　　B. Because I must stick with the purity of my work and do not interfere with the work beyond my domain.

　　　C. Because it isn't my interest.

　　　D. Because it isn't my responsibility.

　　8) Which is not the thing that a physician should do?

　　　A. Bringing benefits to patients.

　　　B. Avoiding all kinds of temptations.

　　　C. Stopping having romance with patients.

　　　D. Discussing patients' disease openly.

　　9) What is the meaning of the sentence of "All that may come to my knowledge in the exercise of my profession or in daily commerce with men, which ought not to be spread abroad, I will keep secret and will never reveal"?

　　　A. The knowledge I learned at work and from communications mustn't be told to others.

　　　B. The knowledge about how to do my work and make communications with others should be kept secret.

　　　C. If the information I have known when I am doing my work and making routine communication should not be spread, I will not expose it and make it secret forever.

　　　D. The information I have learned in the exercise at work and from communications should not be revealed and I will keep it in the dark.

　　10) What do the words "the reverse" mean in the sentence "but if I swerve from it or violate it, may the reverse be my lot"?

　　　A. The misfortune.

　　　B. The oppositeness.

　　　C. The upside-down.

　　　D. The wickedness.

2. Discuss the following questions.

　　1) What do you expect is the Hippocratic Oath's relevance in the 21st century?

　　2) Is the Hippocratic Oath a pointless anachronism (时代错误) or an invaluable moral guide?

　　3) Should aspiring doctors be made to take some version of the oath?

　　4) If you are a doctor, would you take the oath? Why?

　　5) What is the general condition of today's medical profession?

3. Decide whether the following statements are True or False according to the text.

　　1) Apollo is one of the Roman gods associated with medicine, light and truth.

　　2) Medical students should see and treat their teachers as their beloved parents.

　　3) The instruction of medicine should be restricted to the sons of physicians.

　　4) A physician can prescribe what his patients need to make them pleased.

　　5) A physician should do nothing that may lead to a patient's death.

　　6) A physician should never help a woman with abortion.

　　7) A good physician is able to treat patients in all circumstances.

　　8) Physicians should never have romance or any entanglement with patients.

　　9) Physicians ought to keep everything related to patients in the dark.

　　10) Bringing good to patients is one of the important spirits of the Hippocratic Oath.

4. Vocabulary: Complete the following sentences with words from the text given in the box.

　　1) The success of the show ______ our good plan.

　　2) It is a big pity that few of his poems are ______ .

　　3) He shows little interest in sport, which is ______ to all of us except her mother.

　　4) I was the first just now but he ______ the order, so I am the last now.

　　5) The ______ of the English class is 500 but this school will recruit only 400 students.

　　6) A ______ to one person may not necessarily apply to another.

　　7) He has ______ the car license after 3 weeks of training.

　　8) It is so pity that all my efforts proved to be an/a ______ .

　　9) The relaxing country life ______ him to leave the city.

　　10) He ______ his car, trying to escape from the police's chase.

5. Passage reading: Choose the best answer for the following questions according to the passage.

A Modern Version of the Hippocratic Oath

　　I swear to fulfill, to the best of my ability and judgment, this covenant:

　　I will respect the hard-won scientific gains of those physicians in whose steps I walk, and gladly share such knowledge as is mine with those who are to follow.

　　I will apply, for the benefit of the sick, all measures which are required, avoiding those twin traps of overtreatment and therapeutic nihilism.

　　I will remember that there is art to medicine as well as science, and that warmth, sympathy, and understanding may outweigh the surgeon's knife or the chemist's drug.

　　I will not be ashamed to say "I know not," nor will I fail to call in my colleagues when the skills of another are needed for a patient's recovery.

　　I will respect the privacy of my patients, for their problems are not disclosed to me that the world may know. Most especially must I tread with care in matters of life and death. If it is given me to save a life, all thanks. But it may also be within my power to take a life; this awesome responsibility must be faced with great humbleness and awareness of my own frailty. Above all, I must not play at God.

　　I will remember that I do not treat a fever chart, a cancerous growth, but a sick human being, whose illness may affect the person's family and economic stability. My responsibility includes these related problems, if I am to care adequately for the sick.

　　I will prevent disease whenever I can, for prevention is preferable to cure.

　　I will remember that I remain a member of society, with special obligations to all my fellow human beings, those sound of mind and body as well as the infirm.

　　If I do not violate this oath, may I enjoy life and art, respected while I live and remembered with affection thereafter. May I always act so as to preserve the finest traditions of my calling and may I long experience the joy of healing those who seek my help.

　　1) What should a physician try to avoid?

　　　A. Doing the things that he is not so specialized.

　　　B. Treating patients too much.

　　　C. Creating sensation.

　　　D. Saying "I don't know."

　　2) What is even more important than a physician's medications?

　　　A. The process of science.

　　　B. Patients' confidence.

　　　C. Physician's warmth, sympathy and understanding.

　　　D. The family's support.

　　3) What does the sentence of "Above all, I must not play at God" mean?

　　　A. I must respect other colleagues.

　　　B. I must save my patients as far as possible.

　　　C. I can make mistakes at work.

　　　D. I am not omnipotent and must realize my limits.

　　4) What do a physician's responsibilities involve?

　　　A. Caring about patient's physical fitness.

　　　B. Caring about patient's emotions.

　　　C. Caring about patient's physical problem as well as his family and financial status.

　　　D. Caring about patient's testing results.

　　5) Which of the following is not mentioned in the original Hippocratic Oath but added in the modern version?

　　　A. Prevention of disease outweighs the cure.

　　　B. Care about the patient's conditions both physically and mentally.

　　　C. Physicians can enjoy their life and art if they follow the oath consistently.

　　　D. Both A and B.

6.Writing exercises.

　　A. Translation from Chinese to English

　　我志愿献身医学，热爱祖国，忠于人民，恪守医德，尊师律己。我决心竭尽全力除人类之病痛，助健康之完美，维护医术的圣洁和荣誉。救死扶伤，不辞艰辛，执着追求，为祖国医药卫生事业的发展和人类身心健康奋斗终生！

　　B. Topic writing (150 words)

　　Some people say the Hippocratic Oath is not appropriate in the present situation and should be revised according to the status quo. What is your idea? Please state your arguments and try to persuade your readers.

　　1 To live for others and not for himself is a physician's vocation. Woe to the physician, who makes honor with men or money the end of his efforts! He must be ever ready to sacrifice his repose, advantages and comforts, even higher considerations, to the end of saving the life and health of his fellow-men.

　　2  A fundamental law for all the relations of a physician is: "Regulate all your actions in a manner, that the highest end of your vocation which is saving life, restoring health, and relieving the sufferings of humanity, be attained as far as possible."

　　3 The physician in the exercise of his career must regard only man, and make no difference between rich and poor, high or low. What a hand full of gold compared with the tears of gratitude shed by the poor, who, unable to speak or to give, pour out a confession of eternal indebtedness?

　　4  In medical treatment, the physician must exercise his greatest attention, accuracy and conscientiousness. He must not proceed superficially, but with research and knowledge. He must never consider the patient as a means, but always as an end; never as an object of a natural experiment or of art alone, but as a man, as the highest scope of nature.

　　5 Seldom, it is true, can the faults of the physician be brought before, and punished by, a tribunal, as this retribution depends upon accurate evidence of the case, but which is scarcely ever obtained. However, the most certain and the most formidable tribunal is waiting for him—his conscience—where no subterfuge, no palliation, no want of a complaint can guard him, where nothing will absolve him but a pure and guiltless mind, and the conviction of having done all within his power and knowledge towards saving his patient. He must be mindful that neither levity, his own ease, nor any personal consideration, nor—what may happen to a better one—that any predilection for a system or fondness of experimenting, lead him to neglect his duties; for then the internal judge will not remain silent.

　　6 But skill and art alone are not sufficient. He must be particularly mindful of his conduct. It is this, which recommends him to the public and creates confidence and admittance; for the generality of people are incompetent of pronouncing on his science; it is, then, natural for them to take their measure of his ability from the measure of his conduct. By the force of conduct alone, a physician of very moderate talents can become the favorite of the public, and without it, the most skillful professional man remains unnoticed and unappreciated.

　　7 The main features of his conduct should be: aptitude to create confidence, friendly with dignity, decent without affectation, gay but not ludicrous, serious when he ought to give importance to his subject and his words, complaisant and indulgent in all insignificant matters, but firm while executing important measures and sustaining the pronounced sentence; sympathizing and cordial, of sound sense and regard for religion and its consolations; neither taciturn nor loquacious, much less a messenger of news, but devoting his whole attention to the sick, noticing every circumstance, careful in the examination of the patient, observing even those around him, neither eccentric nor vulgar, neither coxcomb nor pedant, but holding to the middle way in all things; especially not passionate and angry, but calm and circumspect; for a quiet and sober sense creates confidence. It is a great fault common to young practitioners, particularly of late, that they strive principally to create sensation, whether it be by the newest fashion of dress or science, or by paradoxes and singularities, or even by charlatanism.

　　8 When the noise of the day has terminated, and the silence of the evening invites to reflection, then the physician may yet devote a few hours of calm contemplation to his patients, write down the most important points in the history of a malady, the alterations which have occurred, his remarks and ideas on the origin and treatment of disease, the remedies prescribed, and reconsider the whole maturely. No evening must pass without paying this last duty to his patients, and thereby adding the keystone to his work. Here, in the silence of night, many a thing will appear to him in quite a different light from during the day; revelations and inspirations will come over him, such as he cannot find birth in the distraction of busy days.

　　9 Moreover, there grows out of it this other great advantage—that of obtaining a collection of complete histories of maladies upon which we have, ourselves, reflected, —a treasure of experience, which will not fail in after-times to yield much instruction, and enlighten us by a comparison of the successive changes of our opinions and methods; —to say nothing of the great utility which may be derived therefrom for the patient, serving as an accurate register of his state of health, of his maladies, the remedies which proved particularly beneficial in such or such a case—a circumstance of egregious moment.

　　10 When shall we cease to place confidence in the mere presence of the physician, and to esteem his care by the number of his visits? Such mere corporeal presence and looking-on, however often repeated, will not promote a cure; and, properly speaking, amounts to nothing more than rendering honors—paying one’s respects—to the disease according to its rank. A visit must be made with deliberation, a collected mind, and be of sufficient duration. The physician must not be present in body only, but in mind; and must direct his whole attention to his patient and study him. One such a visit is worth more than many made in haste.

　　11 It behooves the physician as a duty and merit also to prolong life, and relieve sufferings in maladies pronounced incurable. How much, then, at fault are they who grow disgusted or lazy, and neglect or forsake a patient when there is no prospect of cure! The interest of the artist, it is true, may be annihilated; but humanity must persist and increase. Verily, the unfortunate, who labors under torturing pain, distress and despair, is still more entitled to our commiseration than he, to whom the prospect of recovery lessens all suffering. It is an act of pity, natural to every generous heart, in such cases to make life tolerable, to raise dying hope and to bring consolation at least where there is no salvation.

　　12 The life of a sick person can be shortened not only by acts, but also by the words or the manner of a physician. The physician, therefore, must be careful to preserve hope and courage in the patient’s mind, represent his case in a favorable light, conceal all danger from him, and the more serious it becomes, show a more cheerful appearance; and least of all betray uncertainty and irresolution, although there should be cause for doubt.

　　13 Wherever it is possible without detriment to the main end, the practitioner must always prefer the cheaper to the more precious. It is indeed cruel to neglect this consideration in the case of indigent people, and to take away the means of living in saving their lives.

　　14 To no one is public opinion so important to the physician. Extraordinary talents and striking success, it is true, can, so to say, force public opinion, and raise a physician, even in spite of general dislike. But these are rare exceptions. The common course is this: the young practitioner has gradually to raise a public sentiment in his favor, by which the public may be encouraged to commit to him the highest earthly goods—life and health.

　　15 Wit and a satirical disposition are dangerous gifts to a young practitioner. The greater part of the public will rather have recourse to a man of small capacity than to a scoffer and witling. Secrecy is one of the first and indispensable qualities of a physician. He is to avoid not only being, but even appearing to be indiscreet; therefore, he must speak as little as possible of other patients, answer laconically and indefinitely questions asked about others, and the least of all to go into particulars and narratives of domestic life. Above all things the physician should not be reputed a gamester, a tippler, or a libertine, for these habits are in strict contradiction with his profession, and infallibly will take from him the confidence of the public.

　　16 The first embraces mutual respect, and when that is not possible, let at least indulgence be the principal law of conduct. Nothing is more difficult than to judge others; but nowhere is it more so than in the practice of medicine. It is, therefore, unpardonable in the public; but it is revolting to hear physicians, who know the difficulties of the art and of forming opinions regarding it, judge their colleagues with severity, harshness, contempt, or disclose their faults, and try to raise themselves by lowering others.

　　17 He who degrades a colleague, degrades himself and his art. For in the first place, the more the public becomes acquainted with faults of physicians, the more physicians will become exposed as contemptible and suspicious, and the more such exposure will impair confidence; and confidence in the whole body being diminished, every single one, and the censurer included, will lose a share of it. Further, such conduct is in opposition to the first principles of morals and religion, which command us, not to lay bare the faults of others, but to overlook and excuse them. Such a character will be more lowered in the esteem of sensible men, than he whom he endeavored to degrade.

　　18 The consultations must not be numerous; two, at most three physicians are sufficient. The great principle to be observed by every consulting physician, must, however, always remain this, namely, to have in view nothing but the welfare of the patient, and to that end, he must entirely sacrifice his personal feeling, in order that all his powers may unite for a common purpose. If physicians in their consultations would be penetrated by this simple sentiment, there never would be alterations, scandalous scenes, and misunderstandings; and consultations would always prove beneficial to the patient.

　　19 When a sick person passes from one physician to another for clandestine consultation, it is very common, in order to excuse this step, that he speaks ill of the former physician, right or wrong. An honest physician will be aware that it is ungenerous towards his colleague to countenance this conduct, and to find the treatment hitherto used erroneous. He will rebut such demand, and insinuate to its authors, how indiscreet and impossible it is, to judge and to give advice without consulting the physician in ordinary, and without knowing the plan of cure which he pursues. But should he be convinced that the sick is falsely treated—salvation of the patient being the supreme end of the healing art—regardless of all political and collegial considerations it must prevail. This end must be attained, and in cases of urgent danger, he must immediately do what conscience and duty advise, without further reference.

1.Reading comprehension: Choose the correct answer according to the text.

　　1) What is the fundamental principle when a physician deals with the things at work?

　　　A. Making no difference between rich and poor.

　　　B. Exercising his greatest conscientiousness.

　　　C. What he tries most must be aimed at helping restore human’s health and relieve their sufferings.

　　　D. Sacrificing his rest, advantages and comforts.

　　2) What can make a physician free from guilt according to the text?

　　　A. His conscience.

　　　B. His great knowledge.

　　　C. His fondness of experimenting.

　　　D. His clean mind and strong belief in trying his utmost to save his patients.

　　3) Which of the following is NOT the main characteristic of a physician’s proper behaviors?

　　　A. Always making firm decisions.

　　　B. Confidence and friendly.

　　　C. Respect for different religions.

　　　D. Happy but not funny.

　　4) What can be counted as a meaningful physician's visit according to the text?

　　　A. Often repeated.

　　　B. Of sufficient duration.

　　　C. Careful mind with considerations and enough time.

　　　D. With purposes.

　　5) Which is one of the reasons why the physician who degrades his colleague amounts to degrading himself and his work?

　　　A. Because nothing is more difficult than to judge others.

　　　B. Because physicians should not talk about others.

　　　C. Because it will cause the general public dislike.

　　　D. Because it will destroy the public trust in all physicians.

2. Discuss the following questions.

　　1) What's your comment on the sentence "To live for others and not for himself is a physician's vocation?" (Para. 1)

　　2) What's your opinion on the highest end of a physician's vocation?

　　3) How do you understand the sentence "In medical treatment the physician must exercise his greatest attention, accuracy and conscientiousness."? (Para. 4)

　　4) What's your interpretation of the sentence "By the force of conduct alone, a physician of very moderate talents can become the favorite of the public, and without it, the most skillful professional man remains unnoticed and unappreciated."? (Para. 6)

　　5) How do you comprehend "A visit must be made with deliberation, a collected mind, and be of sufficient duration."? (Para. 10)

　　6) What is implied in the sentence "Verily, the unfortunate, who labors under torturing pain, distress and despair, is still more entitled to our commiseration than he, to whom the prospect of recovery lessens all suffering."? (Para. 11)

　　7) What does the sentence "Wit and a satirical disposition are dangerous gifts to a young practitioner." imply? (Para. 15)

　　8) How do you understand the sentence "Nothing is more difficult than to judge others; but nowhere is it more so than in the practice of medicine."? (Para. 16)

　　9) Do you agree with the author on the sentence "He will rebut such demand, and insinuate to its authors, how indiscreet and impossible it is, to judge and to give advice without consulting the physician in ordinary, and without knowing the plan of cure which he pursues."? Why? (Para. 19)

　　10) What's your comment on the 12 principles as a whole? Do you think they are practical in the present medical profession?

3. Vocabulary: Choose the best words to complete the following sentences.

　　1) Be ______ of the maxim that evil actions will bring retribution.

　　　A. remember　　　B. memory　　　　C. careful　　　　　　D. mindful

　　2) I don't want to listen to him to pronounce on the complaint waiter with affectation, which will create ______.

　　　A. excitement　　　B. confidence　　　C. sensation　　　　D. disturbance

　　3) This charlatan executed his plan and ______ his life by selling the so-called panacea.

　　　A. remained　　　　B. retained　　　　C. sustained　　　　D. attained

　　4) His words ______ us unhappy.

　　　A. rendered　　　　B. reminded　　　  C. minded　　　   　D. rented

　　5) So to speak, patients don’t call for commiseration and they are entitled to know the ______ of restoring their health.

　　　A. prosperity　　  　B. prospect　　　　C. precaution　　    D. proverb

　　6) It behooves judges to be ______ making judgments free from any sentiment.

　　　A. promised to　　　　　　　　　　　　B. entitled to

　　　C. reassured about　　　　　　　　　　D. committed to

　　7) The sick man had ______ drugs to relieve his pain.

　　　A. recourse to　　　B. relied on　　　　C. restored to　　　D. turned in

　　8) Why do they scoff at the ideas ______ theirs?

　　　A. opposed　　　　　　　　　　　　　　B. in opposition to

　　　C. in contradiction　　　　　　　　　  　D. opposing to

　　9) The truth is supreme and will ______.

　　　A. prevail　　　　  　B. avail　　　　　　C. access　　　　 　D. arise

　　10)He is insinuating to us that the patient is ______ the doctor.

　　　A. speaking bad of　　　　　　　　　　B. speaking badly of

　　　C. speaking ill of　　　　　　　　　　　D. speaking good of

For more information on the Hippocratic Oath, please go to the following websites:

1. http://www.nlm.nih.gov/hmd/greek/

2. http:// www.crystalinks.com/hippocrates.html

3. http:// www.encyclopedia.com/html/h/hippocra.asp

4. http://www.pbs.org/wgb/noa/doctors/oath_todya.html

For more information on marriage vows, please go to the following websites:

1. http://www.chicagomarriage.com/wedding_vows.htm

2. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marriage_vows

3. http://www.rd.com/true-stories/love/true-love-reunites-a-couple-torn-apart-by-amnesia/?trkid=channel