Abstract

Liberating Medicine David Seedhouse Unit for the Study of Health Care Ethics, Department of General Practice, University of Liverpool, UK Amid the increasing debate about the practice of medicine and the delivery of health care lie certain fundamental questions: What is the purpose of medicine? What is the role of the medical profession? and Where should the limits of medical intervention be set? In a world of rapid scientific and technological advance, public expectations place increasing demands on the doctor’s skills, and the scope of medical practice needs constantly to be redefined. Yet few guidelines exist on how to go about this. Liberating Medicine is designed to help doctors and health care professionals to understand the role, scope and purpose of their work, by showing that through heightened recognition of possible goals and potential limits, doctors will be more free to select the most beneficial targets for their health work, to plan their strategies for care freely within their practice, and to be able to liberate more fulfilling potentials in those for whom they care. Although rooted in theoretical analysis the book is essentially practical. It contains teaching exercises, a model which can be used to show doctors how close to the limits of practice they are, and a workable checklist for use in interactions with individual patients. All those involved in the study and practice of medicine—but particularly medical students and their teachers—will find this a thought-provoking, stimulating and innovative guide to the philosophical principles of medicine and how these can be applied to everyday practice. Other Related Books Health: The Foundations for Achievement David Seedhouse September 1986 Ethics: The Heart of Health Care David Seedhouse July 1988 Changing Ideas in Health Care Edited by David Seedhouse and Alan Cribb June 1989 Philosophical Medical Ethics Raanan Gillon October 1986.