Hippocratic Oath

[Super Squirrel]

My character concept I'm working on for a GGU is going to have a Medical Degree. This raises several questions I need to work out:

1) Beyond License to Practice Profession, what other perks should I take? The character cannot preform surgery. I suspect he should have access to medical records, but I'm not sure if that is covered on the License or not.

2) How many points would the Hippocratic Oath be worth?

3) Would the Hippocratic Oath influence a character's course in combat, especially when he has an NND attack called "Heart Flutter" that causes, well, his heart to skip a beat?

[Super Squirrel]

And a quick $0.02 on a power if you don't mind.

Lifeline: Detect Health (touch) 360 degree, Discriminatory, Ranged. RSR(Paramedics), Concentration, 0 DCV, Full Phase Action

25 Active, 10 Real

[Fireg0lem]

My character concept I'm working on for a GGU is going to have a Medical Degree. This raises several questions I need to work out:

1) Beyond License to Practice Profession, what other perks should I take? The character cannot preform surgery. I suspect he should have access to medical records, but I'm not sure if that is covered on the License or not.

2) How many points would the Hippocratic Oath be worth?

3) Would the Hippocratic Oath influence a character's course in combat, especially when he has an NND attack called "Heart Flutter" that causes, well, his heart to skip a beat?

2) Sounds Like Code of Conduct for 20 points.

3) No. The only sections of the hippocratic oath that might affect combat are not to cause disease and to approach taking life solemnly and with humility. Most of the oath only covers practice of medicine; nowhere is a doctor forbidden violence. The only thing with the "heart flutter" would be using it against someone with a heart condition, because of the potential lethality.

[TheEmerged]

And a quick $0.02 on a power if you don't mind.

Lifeline: Detect Health (touch) 360 degree, Discriminatory, Ranged. RSR(Paramedics), Concentration, 0 DCV, Full Phase Action

25 Active, 10 Real

The Analyze adder and the skill Analyze: Health would be appropriate additions to this.

[Balok]

An important part of the Hippocratic Oath is "First, do no harm". There are two possible interpretations, and physicians over the years have subscribed to both.

The first says that the physician will not perform any procedure unless the benefit is certain to outweigh the harm (for example, surgery harms the patient to provide a greater benefit).

The second says that a physician, as a healer, is morally obligated never to inflict harm in any situation. That would be at the minimum a Total Committment CVK, and might prevent the character from acting in anything but a supporting role. It would certain prevent him from using a "Heart Flutter" type of power on an opponent. You probably don't want this one, which means your Oath is limited to caregiving situations. As a GM, I'd give you nothing for that, under the rule that "A disadvantage that doesn't adversely affect the character in some manner is not a disadvantage."

[Fireg0lem]

An important part of the Hippocratic Oath is "First, do no harm". There are two possible interpretations, and physicians over the years have subscribed to both.

Actually, "First, do no harm" is not part of the hippocratic oath, either ancient or modern version.

A quick summary:

Ancient

1) Various rules with respect to honoring teacher and passing on trade.

2) Do what, in the physician's opinion, is best for his patients, and abstain from misuse of medical art. No euthanasia, no abortions.

3) No surgery

4) Act for benefit of the sick

5) No sex with patients or others in their households

6) Keep secrets revealed by patients.

Modern version

1) Respect fellows and seek their help when needed

2) Same as 2) in ancient version.

3) Act with consent of patient unless in an emergency

4) Act for benefit of the sick

5) No seduction of patients

6) Keep secrets revealed by patients.


Of course, not everyone agrees on what the modern version should be. The AMA has a shorter version that boils down to:

1) Act only for the benefit of your patients.

2) Do not misuse medical knowledge for crimes

3) Do not misuse your position as a doctor

[Ssudukh]

[QUOTE=Fireg0lem]Actually, "First, do no harm" is not part of the hippocratic oath, either ancient or modern version.

Actually, there is an alternative translation which does include that phrase, "First, do no harm. I'm not sure where this "alternative" comes from, but the modern version does not include it, and since that is the one a modern doctor would take (and to my knowledge, doctors are not even required to take the Hippocratic Oath any more) that would be the one in effect for him.

[Hawksmoor]

The GGU rules have it as a -10pt Social Limitation on the Package.

As to how I as a GM would enforce it. Fine be a hero, punch and blast away BUT at the drop of bystander you are expected to render aid, and maintain ethical standards at all times. Fail and you get the -5pt Social Limitation: Banned from Practice and -5pt Bad Doctor Rep 8-

Hawksmoor
-May take those two for my Legacy Character....hmmm....