Wednesday, December 15, 2004
| Topic: |
Using the Medicine of History |
| Presenter: |
Harry Powell |
| Location: |
Medical Teaching Facility (MTF) 175 |
Presentation
Abstract
: |
Cultural changes associated with post-modernism have had an impact on medicine, but physicians don't always seem aware of it. Patients are affected by societal trends and so the relationship between 'organized medicine' and the public we serve is strained. Thus the paradigm 'beyond success,' as discussed by the late Roy Porter.
Medicine, at the pinnacle of scientific achievement faces a restless, uneasy public, healthier than ever before but also more anxious about their health. Risk and trust, key issues in postmodern discourse, have always challenged medical advancement. In this presentation I will argue for a review our own history by physicians, so that we are prepared to more effectively engage with the public by explaining ourselves, past and present. Medicine as a discipline applies scientific knowledge and is driven by discoveries in basic science, yet medicine as the study of human biology in health and disease remains anchored in the humanities and can embrace this heritage. |
Discussion
Question: |
If medicine is so advanced, why is the public unhappy about matters of health and health care delivery? |
Discussion
Summary: |
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| Readings: |
- Porter, Roy. Blood and Guts: A Short History of Medicine.
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