The ancient version of "The Doctor's Oath" (Greek) is attributed to Hippocrates, considered to be one of the greatest doctors and philosophers of ancient Greece and the father of modern medicine.

Hippocrates, the first individual to attempt to institutionalize the medical profession and to accord it legal status, addressed the ethical aspects of medical care in many of his discourses. His writings include "The Doctor's Oath," which constitutes the first aggregate of ethical principles pertaining to medical practitioners.

Over the years "The Doctor's Oath," as formulated by Hippocrates, was translated into many languages and its original version was altered and modified. Certain motifs, however, remain constant. The "Oath of the Hebrew Physician" written by Dr. Lipman Ben Shlomo Hylfrein and the "Physician’s Prayer" by Maimonides include certain motifs found in the original Greek oath.