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A '''Hippocratic Oath for scientists''' is an oath similar to the [[Hippocratic Oath]] for medical professionals, adapted for scientists. Multiple varieties of such an oath have been proposed. [[Joseph Rotblat]] has suggested that an oath would help make new scientists aware of their social and moral responsibilities;<ref name=oath/> opponents, however, have pointed to the "very serious risks for the scientific community" posed by an oath, particularly the possibility that it might be used to shut down certain avenues of research, such as [[stem cell]]s.<ref name=AAAS/>

==Development==
The idea of an oath has been proposed by various prominent members of the scientific community, including [[Karl Popper]], [[Joseph Rotblat]] and [[John Sulston]]. Research by the [[American Association for the Advancement of Science]] (AAAS) identified sixteen different oaths for scientists or engineers proposed during the 20th century, most after 1970.<ref name=AAAS>{{cite web|url=https://www.aaas.org/page/should-there-be-oath-scientists-and-engineers|title=Should there be an Oath for Scientists and Engineers?|publisher=AAAS|date=April 2001|author=Margot Iverson|access-date=3 May 2017}}</ref>

Popper, Rotblat and Sulston were all primarily concerned with the ethical implications of scientific advances, in particular for Popper and Rotblat the development of the [[atomic bomb]], and believed that scientist, like medics, should have an oath that compelled them to "[[Primum non nocere|first do no harm]]". Popper said: "Formerly the pure scientist or the pure scholar had only one responsibility beyond those which everybody has; that is, to search for the truth. … This happy situation belongs to the past."<ref name=Popper/> Rotblat similarly stated: "Scientists can no longer claim that their work has nothing to do with the welfare of the individual or with state policies." He also attacked the attitude that the only obligation of a scientist is to make their results known, the use made of these results being the public's business, saying: "This amoral attitude is in my opinion actually immoral, because it eschews personal responsibility for the likely consequences of one's actions."<ref name=oath/> Sulston was more concerned with rising public distrust of scientists and conflicts of interest brought about by the exploitation of research for profit. The stated intention of his oath was "both to require qualified scientists to cause no harm and to be wholly truthful in their public pronouncements, and also to protect them from discrimination by employers who might prefer them to be economical with the truth."<ref name=Sulston/>

The concept of an oath, rather than a more detailed [[code of conduct]], has been opposed by Ray Spier, Professor of Science and Engineering Ethics at the [[University of Surrey]], UK, who stated that "Oaths are not the way ahead".<ref name=Sulston>{{cite news | title = An oath for scientists?| url = http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/sci/tech/1250331.stm |publisher=BBC News|date=30 March 2001 | access-date = 2008-07-17}}</ref> Other objections raised at a AAAS meeting on the topic in 2000 included that an oath would simply make scientists look good without changing behaviour, that an oath could be used to suppress research, that some scientists would refuse to swear any oath as a matter of principle, that an oath would be ineffective, that creation of knowledge is separate from how it is used, and that the scientific community could never agree on the content of an oath. The meeting concluded that: "There was a broadly shared consensus that a tolerant (but not patronizing) attitude should be taken towards those developing oaths, but that an oath posed very serious risks for the scientific community which could not be ignored."<ref name=AAAS/> Nobel laureate [[Jean-Marie Lehn]] has said "The first aim of scientific research is to increase knowledge for understanding. Knowledge is then available to mankind for use, namely to progress as well as to help prevent disease and suffering. Any knowledge can be misused. I do not see the need for an oath".<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.lindau-nobel.org/do-scientists-need-an-equivalent-of-the-hippocratic-oath-to-ensure-ethical-conduct/|title=Do scientists need an equivalent of the Hippocratic Oath to ensure ethical conduct?|author=Lou Woodley|date=29 June 2012|publisher=Lindsay Nobel Laureate Meetings}}</ref>

Some of the propositions are outlined below.

=== Karl Popper ===
In 1968, the philosopher [[Karl Popper]] gave a talk on "The Moral Responsibility of the Scientist" at the International Congress on Philosophy in Vienna, in which he suggested "an undertaking analogous to the Hippocratic oath". In his analysis he noted that the original oath had three sections: the apprentice's obligation to their teacher; the obligation to carry on the high tradition of their art, preserve its high standards, and pass these standards on to their own students; and the obligation to help the suffering and preserve their confidentiality. He also noted that it was an apprentice's oath, as distinct from a graduation oath. Based on this, he proposed a three-section oath for students, rearranged from the Hippocratic oath to give ''professional responsibility'' to further the growth of knowledge; ''the student'', who owes respect to others engaged in science and loyalty to teachers; and ''the overriding loyalty'' owed to humanity as a whole.<ref name=Popper>{{cite journal|last1=Popper|first1=Karl|title=The Moral Responsibility of the Scientist|date=March 1969|pages=52–56|journal=[[Encounter (magazine)|Encounter]] |jstor= 44480137}}</ref>

=== Joseph Rotblat ===

The idea of a Hippocratic Oath for scientists was raised again by [[Joseph Rotblat]] in his acceptance speech for the [[Nobel Peace Prize]] in 1995,<ref>{{cite web|quote=The time has come to formulate guidelines for the ethical conduct of scientist, perhaps in the form of a voluntary Hippocratic Oath|url=https://www.nobelprize.org/nobel_prizes/peace/laureates/1995/rotblat-lecture.html|title=Nobel Prize lecture: Remember Your Humanity|publisher=The Nobel Foundation|date=1995|author=Joseph Rotblat|access-date=2 May 2017}}</ref> who later expanded on the idea, endorsing the formulation of the Student Pugwash Group:<ref name="oath">{{Cite journal | last1 = Rotblat | first1 = Joseph| author-link1 =Joseph Rotblat| title = A Hippocratic Oath for Scientists | doi = 10.1126/science.286.5444.1475 | journal = Science | volume = 286 | issue = 5444 | pages = 1475 | year = 1999 | pmid = 10610545}}</ref>

{{blockquote|I promise to work for a better world, where science and technology are used in socially responsible ways. I will not use my education for any purpose intended to harm human beings or the environment. Throughout my career, I will consider the ethical implications of my work before I take action. While the demands placed upon me may be great, I sign this declaration because I recognize that individual responsibility is the first step on the path to peace.}}

=== John Sulston ===
In 2001, in the scientific journal ''[[Biochemical Journal]]'', Nobel laureate [[John Sulston]] proposed that "For individual scientists, it may be helpful to have a clear professional code of conduct – a Hippocratic oath as it were". This path would enable scientists to declare their intention "to cause no harm and to be wholly truthful in their public pronouncements", and would also serve to protect them from unethical employers. The concept of an oath was opposed by Ray Spiers of the [[University of Surrey]], an expert on scientific ethics who was preparing a 20-point code of conduct at the time.<ref name=Sulston/>

=== David King ===
In 2007, the UK government's chief scientific advisor, [[David King (scientist)|David King]], presented a "Universal Ethical Code for Scientists" at the [[British Association]]'s Festival of Science in York. Despite being a code rather than an oath, this was widely reported as a Hippocratic oath for scientists.<ref>{{cite news | title = Hippocratic oath for scientists| url = http://blogs.nature.com/news/thegreatbeyond/2007/09/hippocratic_oath_for_scientist.html | work = [[Nature (magazine)|Nature]] |date=12 September 2007 | author=Daniel Cressey|access-date = 2008-07-13}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|publisher=[[BBC News]]|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/6990868.stm|quote=Described as the scientific equivalent of doctors' Hippocratic Oath, the code includes clauses on corruption, public consultation and the environment.|title=UK science head backs ethics code|author=Pallab Ghosh|date=12 September 2007|author-link=Pallab Ghosh}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|work=[[The Daily Telegraph]]|location=London|date=12 September 2007|title='Hippocratic Oath' for scientists proposed|author1=Roger Highfield| author2= Nic Fleming}}</ref> In contrast to the earlier oaths, King's code was not only intended to meet the public demand that "scientific developments are ethical and serve the wider public good" but also to address public confidence in the integrity of science, which had been shaken by the disgrace of cloning pioneer [[Hwang Woo-suk]] and by other research-fraud scandals.<ref>{{cite news|work=[[The Guardian]]|author=David King|date=20 March 2007|title=Rigour, respect and responsibility}}</ref>

Work on the code started in 2005, following a meeting of [[G8]] science ministers and advisors. It was supported by the [[Royal Society]] in its response to a public consultation on the draft code in 2006, where they said it would help whistleblowers and the promotion of science in schools.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/education/2006/jan/05/highereducation.uk|date=5 January 2006|title=Ethics code seeks to regulate science
|author=Donald MacLeod|work=[[The Guardian]]}}</ref>

The code has seven principles, divided into three sections:<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/universal-ethical-code-for-scientists|title=Rigour, respect, responsibility: a universal ethical code for scientists|publisher=[[Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy]]|date=12 September 2007}}</ref>

{{blockquote|'''Rigour'''
* Act with skill and care in all scientific work. Maintain up to date skills and assist their development in others.
* Take steps to prevent corrupt practices and professional misconduct. Declare conflicts of interest.
* Be alert to the ways in which research derives from and affects the work of other people, and respect the rights and reputations of others.
'''Respect'''
* Ensure that your work is lawful and justified.
* Minimize and justify any adverse effect your work may have on people, animals and the natural environment.
'''Responsibility'''
* Seek to discuss the issues that science raises for society. Listen to the aspirations and concerns of others.
* Do not knowingly mislead, or allow others to be misled, about scientific matters. Present and review scientific evidence, theory or interpretation honestly and accurately.}}

==See also==
* [[Code of conduct]]
* [[Code of ethics]]
* [[Universal code (ethics)]]

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
*[http://www.abc.net.au/rn/scienceshow/stories/2007/2049039.htm Transcript of a Conversation with Sir David King, 2007];
*[http://www.library.utoronto.ca/ims/ Institute of Medical Science, Toronto, 2008] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080615100249/http://www.library.utoronto.ca/ims/ |date=15 June 2008 }};

{{DEFAULTSORT:Hippocratic Oath For Scientists}}
[[Category:Ethics of science and technology]]
[[Category:Oaths]]

Hippocratic Oath for scientists - Revision history

imported>Motekov at 12:36, 1 April 2025