Final answer:
The ancient promise doctors make, often referred to as the Hippocratic Oath, entails not participating in assisted suii.cide which aligns with Kantian deontological ethics, focusing on adherence to moral duties over consequences.
Step-by-step explanation:
An ancient promise that doctors still make, which includes an oath to not give a deadly drug or participate in assisted sui.cide, is most famously known as the Hippocratic Oath. When it comes to examining such ethical dilemmas in the field of medicine with respect to this promise, a deontologist like Immanuel Kant would invoke moral principles that transcend a doctor's personal inclinations or social customs. In particular, Kant's philosophy requires that the actions of an individual adhere to a universal moral law, implying that one's duty or obligation to these moral principles is paramount, regardless of the consequences.
Kant’s deontological ethics would dictate that doctors should focus on their duties rather than the outcomes of their actions. This means that even if a patient desires to die, physicians have a moral duty not to participate in helping the patient to end their own life. This reflects a Kantian commitment to the principle that we should treat humanity, whether in our own person or in the person of another, always as an end and never as a means to an end.