ABSTRACT
Bioethics in Greece has been intertwined with the Hippocratic tradition, a tradition which, incorporated in the famous Hippocratic Oath, permeated Western culture for many centuries. Hippocrates, who, according to historical sources, was said to possess very acute judgment, appreciated the importance of the relationship between doctor and patient, a relationship that was codified into the brilliant Hippocratic Oath. This Oath was adopted by the Medical School of Baghdad and was disseminated into Europe by the Arabs. It was forgotten for many centuries but was rediscovered in Europe during the Enlightenment era of the seventeenth century (Granitsas, 1991). Enriched by the Christian humanitarian spirit and the necessary legal framework, the Oath became the foundation of the medical profession for many centuries (Merikas, 1987, pp. 39-48).
