Sarah Louden: Rethinking the Hippocratic Oath to reflect the reality of modern medicine
Sarah Louden, Founder and CEO of Total Health, shared a post on LinkedIn, about a paper by published in JMIR Publications.
“The world of medicine is transforming before our eyes. My dad went to medical school in the 70s and died in 1999. He would find today like an episode of The Jetsons!
With digital tools like telemedicine, AI, and electronic health records becoming a part of everyday care, we have an incredible opportunity to revolutionize healthcare—but only if we keep values front and center.
A recent article posted by Bertalan Meskó, MD, PhD struck a chord with me. It challenges us to rethink the Hippocratic Oath to reflect the reality of modern medicine. And honestly, this feels overdue.
Doctors are one diagnosis or crisis away from being a patient themselves, and of the scores who I know have had this experience like Dr. Douglas Flora, MD, LSSBB, FACCC, the level of awareness and compassion is actually palpable.
Like the article suggests, the Oath should be revised ‘to reflect the digital health revolution, advances in patient empowerment, and the evolving role of technology in the everyday practice of medicine’. My suggestions would be much more patient-centered as this is an area we seem to be drifting, despite the patient voice being more powerful than ever!
- I will master digital tools to provide the best possible care because technology can save lives—but only when it’s used with skill and purpose.
- I will fiercely protect your privacy in an era when data breaches and misuse feel like daily headlines. Your trust in me is sacred.
- I will fight for equity. Healthcare should not depend on your zip code, internet connection, or the language you speak. Digital health should close gaps, not widen them.
- And most importantly, I will never lose the human connection. Behind every data point, scan, or video screen is a person with fears, hopes, and a story. Compassion must remain our foundation.
The Hippocratic Oath has always been about serving with integrity and putting patients first. Whether you took the Oath centuries ago, in the 70s like my dad, or are in medical school in this moment…remember your work is a calling and a gift, one not to be undervalued for its impact on countless people and families.”
“A Revised Hippocratic Oath for the Era of Digital Health”
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More posts featuring Sarah Louden.
Sarah Louden is the Founder and CEO of Total Health | Oncology. She is a committed advocate for women in business and healthcare and also serves as Chairman of the Board of Directors for the Cancer Equity Project.
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