Hippocrates

Father of Western medicine who revolutionized healthcare practices

Hippocrates of Kos (460–370 BCE) transformed medical practice by establishing scientific foundations for diagnosis and treatment. Breaking from supernatural explanations, he introduced the concept that diseases arise from natural causes through his Hippocratic Corpus writings.

His revolutionary Hippocratic Oath established ethical standards still referenced today. Through systematic observation and documentation, he developed theories about humoral medicine that dominated European healthcare for 2,000 years.

Key innovations include:

• Patient confidentiality principles
• Climate/dietary influence theories
• Surgical instrument standardization
• Fever classification system

The Hippocratic tradition transformed medicine from mystical practice to evidence-based science, creating professional standards that shaped global healthcare development.