Ethics: the joy of practice.

Dr John J. Conley was an integral part of the house of surgery in the latter part of the 20th century. Conley placed the ethical values of practice at the forefront of his teachings and transcribed many valuable lessons in his writings. In 1993, he wrote his version of the Hippocratic Oath outlining 12 important principles. Those principles are revisited here as a way to celebrate the joy of the calling that is medical practice. In addition, 7 new elements are added as a way to enhance that joy in the light of 21st-century medicine. The uplifting experience found in a career filled with ethical conduct is the legacy we should all strive to achieve.