Against pain, an "Hippocratic Oath" for doctors of all specialties

The set of commitments, which have been handed over to Pope Francis and presented at the United Nations General Assembly, aims to ensure that equality in access to pain care becomes a worldwide priority at health, humanitarian and ethical level.

The ten commitments are addressed to doctors of all specialties.

The Decalogue 

I. I am a doctor and respect the Hippocratic Oath

II. I have to treat pain

III. I must take care of the suffering that comes from pain

IV. I have to work for the wellness of the person

V. I have to consider essential the quality of care

VI. I have to commit myself to ensure that access to care to all people is guaranteed, wherever they are born and live 

VII. I have to avoid inequalities and treat all people, regardless of age, gender, ethnicity and religion

VIII. I have to base treatment decisions on the respect of the will of the person and in defence of human dignity

IX. I have to share and promote the knowledge on pain care

X. This is my commitment to improving the quality of life of people with pain

The “Commitment against pain, manifesto of the Italian doctors” can be read here, in Italian only.

A press release on the presentation to the Pope and the UN General Assembly is available here, in Itlaian only.

The initiative has been developed thanks to an unconditional grant by Grünenthal Italy.