Just as Doctors take an Oath of healing their patients to the best of his abilities, Computer people do the same for systems they are responsible for; except that a formal Oath was missing… that was until now - here is the version of Hippocratic Oath that is based on the widely used Oath by Dr. Louis Lasagna:
I swear to fulfill, to the best of my ability and judgment, this covenant:
I will respect the hard-won scientific gains of those Information Technology Specialists in whose steps I walk, and gladly share such knowledge as is mine with those who are to follow.
I will apply, for the Improvement of performance, all measures [that] are required, avoiding those twin traps of over-tuning and electronic nihilism.
I will remember that there is art to database design and maintenance as well as science, and that knowledge with consideration, values, and understanding may outweigh the IT Tools and methods.
I will not be ashamed to say "I know not", nor will I fail to call in my colleagues when the skills of another are needed for a System recovery or tuning.
I will respect the security of my customer’s data, for their problems are not disclosed to me that the world may know. Most especially must I tread with care in matters of compliance! If it is given to me to save a system, all thanks. But it may also be within my power to cause a failure; this awesome responsibility must be faced with great humbleness and awareness of my own frailty. Above all, I must not play at God.
I will remember that I am not fascinated by a threat or system vulnerability, but treating a system in need, whose impact may affect my client economically or strategically. My responsibility includes these related problems, if I am to care adequately for the poor performance or threats.
I will prevent probable impact whenever I can, for prevention is preferable to cure.
I will remember that I remain a part of the company with special obligations to all my fellow users, developers and all others using these systems.
If I do not violate this oath, may I enjoy life and art, be respected while I live and remembered with affection thereafter. May I always act so as to preserve the finest traditions of my calling and may I long experience the joy of healing those systems who seek my help.
Publishing this Oath as a professional courtesy
