What's in a promise?

Most of the public believes that before they graduate from medical school, new physicians have to raise their right hand and recite the Hippocratic Oath.  And if asked what is in the Hippocratic Oath, most people would say "First, do no harm" (perhaps a few would even recite the Latin version from the original Greek translation, "Primum non nocere").  Just to correct a common misconception, "First, do no harm" is often attributed to the ancient Greek physician Hippocrates, but it actually doesn't appear in his famous Oath.    

To correct another common misconception, most graduating physicians don't actually recite the Hippocratic Oath.  Many medical schools use more contemporary versions, and at least according to the Association of American Colleges, over half of medical schools in the United States use their own customized version, often written in collaboration with their medical students in order to emphasize more modern ethical principles such as health equity and patient advocacy.  Many medical schools use a version during the "White Coat Ceremony" (which often takes place when medical students start their clinical years of training) as opposed to graduation.

I recently came across the Oath of Maimonides, named after the 12th century rabbi, philosopher, and physician, Maimonides.  While some physicians recite the Oath of Maimonides at graduation from medical school, the Oath is more often used in other professions, including pharmacists.  Here it is:

The eternal providence has appointed me to watch over the life and health of Thy creatures. May the love for my art actuate me at all times; may neither avarice nor miserliness, nor thirst for glory or for a great reputation engage my mind; for the enemies of truth and philanthropy could easily deceive me and make me forgetful of my lofty aim of doing good to Thy children.

May I never see in the patient anything but a fellow creature in pain.

Grant me the strength, time and opportunity always to correct what I have acquired, always to extend its domain; for knowledge is immense and the spirit of man can extend indefinitely to enrich itself daily with new requirements. Today he can discover his errors of yesterday and tomorrow he can obtain a new light on what he thinks himself sure of today.

Oh, God, Thou has appointed me to watch over the life and death of Thy creatures; here am I ready for my vocation and now I turn unto my calling.

There's something to be said about making a promise, following a covenant, or reciting an oath (see my post, "Stick to the code").  I think it just means more than simple words on a piece of paper.  And studies suggest that they matter - for example, people who take an oath to act honestly actually do act honestly (compared to those who don't take an oath to act honestly).  Reciting an oath or promise represents a true commitment to a specific purpose.  The physical act of reciting an oath, as opposed to even signing one, just means more.

I do not remember reciting the Hippocratic Oath at my own graduation (and we didn't have anything like the "White Coat Ceremony" back then), but I remember taking my Oath of Office on the day that I accepted my U.S. Navy commission like it was yesterday.  It was a big day for me for sure.  As I reflect more on what my Oath of Office meant to me personally, I can't help but wonder whether our world would be a lot more trusting (and trustworthy) if we used oaths, covenants, and promises more frequently?