Although it has been altered to reflect changes in medical knowledge and practice, the Hippocratic Oath is an oath of ethics that has been taken by physicians since ancient times. The authorship of the oath remains disputed, but it is popularly attributed to Hippocrates, a Greek physician who lived around 460 to 370 BCE. We know very little about Hippocrates personally, although he is reputed to have come from a family of illustrious doctors. We know much more about his teachings and writings, however. The Hippocratic Oath is part of the Corpus Hippocraticum—a collection of early Greek medical texts associated with Hippocrates and his teachings. Written in Ionic Greek, the original oath outlined ethical principles for physicians, emphasizing non-maleficence (“do no harm”), beneficence (“do good”), and confidentiality. These principles provide a simple way for healthcare professionals to prioritize patient well-being, dignity, and trust. The Hippocratic Oath is not merely a historical document; its principles continue to inform medical practices and legal statutes today.