The Veterinarian Oath

The very first few words that escaped from my lips upon graduating as a vet happened to be a lifetime promise and a pledge to God and to all of mankind which sealed my new responsibilities and fate in my career and life.

Even though they were recited off a parched piece of paper hidden in the palm of my right hand, the solemnity and obduracy of the moment was overwhelming, as we declared and dedicated our lives to be good and ethical veterinarians.

As the representative of my entire class of graduating vets, in the quiescence of the cavernous hall despite it being flooded with proud and excited parents, before we had the chance to toss our mortarboards high up into the air as we shouted out victoriously and in triumph, I could hear the echoes of the microphone before my lips and the resounding voices of the awkward bunch of my coursemates and friends gathered behind me, as I led them through this solemn promise:

"Being admitted to the profession of veterinary medicine,
I solemnly swear to use my scientific knowledge and skills
for the benefit of society
through the protection of animal health,
the relief of animal suffering,
the conservation of livestock resources,
the promotion of public health
and the advancement of medical knowledge.

I will practice my profession conscientiously, with dignity
and in keeping with the principles of veterinary medical ethics.

I accept as a lifelong obligation the continual improvement
of my professional knowledge and competence."

In the modern rat race of a commercialised world, I silently wonder to myself how many of us vets actually continue to hold fast to the very oath we made so many years past. The harsh reality of a material world sinks in fast coupled with a dire lack of time and over the years of hardship, we lose ourselves to greed and complacency, which rob us of the valour, the devotion and the steadfast fealty to our code of veterinary conduct and ethics. We lose the simple joys in helping animals that we once discovered when we were impassioned and enthusiastic veterinary students.

I sometimes look back at the days when we were together as students in class, so eager to make a difference to this world as a vet. Those were times when we found so much fulfillment in applying our knowledge and skills to simply helping a poor, helpless lifeform placed into our hands. I draw myself back to the memories of squatting beside our patients after 3-hour-long surgeries, stroking and massaging them, turning them over now and again, calling out their names gently, nursing them back to consciousness as they paddled and struggled to overcome the fading effects of anaesthesia. It didn't matter so much to us back then if we were the last ones in the wards, or if the sun had set many hours ago, or if we hadn't had any dinner and our stomachs were rumbling from hunger. We were part of this struggling animal's healing process, its one last feeble attempt at life and its fighting desire to be well again, and that mattered most of all. If there was even the slightest chance we could make a difference, we would not hesitate to go all the way.

Do we remember what it was like? Have our attitutes changed ever since? Have we all forgotten what it was all about? I hope not. I pray not. And I think not. The Veterinarian Oath reminds us time and again of our calling and of our passion.