written by Council Members in an exercise reimagining the Hippocratic Oath (July 2024)

As Young Patients’ AREA Council Members, …

… we will amplify young patient voices to improve the healthcare system. We will share our own stories to advocate for ourselves and our communities, especially for those who cannot or do not know how. We understand that other people have different experiences than we do. We will teach and empower our peers to tell their own stories and to fight for themselves. We will carry pride and confidence in our collective lived experiences as young patients, and will advocate for our expertise to be incorporated into innovation.

… we will wield both the frustration from unvoiced healthcare experiences and empathy. We will use this to create a bridge between patients and healthcare professionals. We will work to make all information accessible, allowing patients to make informed decisions about their health and wellbeing.

… we will work with others – patients, organizations, providers, researchers, policymakers – and not in competition with them. We will remember that conversation requires patience and communication, along with a blending of perspectives, in which all points of view are valued. We will listen authentically. We will strive to learn. And when we make mistakes, we will embrace their lessons without guilt but rather use them as opportunities for growth and understanding.

… we will treat all individuals with respect and dignity. We will embrace diverse relationships, sexualities, genders, races, cultures, and socioeconomic backgrounds. We will see individuals beyond their label as “patient,” and will work to advocate for the whole person – so that everyone can have the health care experience, and the full life, that they need and want.