The name of the Iraqi physician who was executed was not stated in the Amnesty International report in which the incident was mentioned.1 However, the names of many other health care professionals at risk have been published.2,3 For example, the Turkish Medical Association has protested against torture and executions, and several of its members have been threatened with imprisonment, including Veli Lök.2 A Romanian physician, Atilla Kun, refused to cover up incidents of torture and was sent to prison for 3 years.4
Many physicians uphold the Hippocratic oath in the face of imprisonment, mistreatment and even execution. Their courage, will and struggles have to be honoured, but not by scholarships. Rather, we should try to understand why physicians have faced human rights violations and we should work to help our colleagues who are presently at risk. The best way to honour them is to share their sense of responsibility to uphold the Hippocratic oath.