Pain and ideology in human and veterinary medicine.
Historically, physicians and veterinarians have placed much less emphasis on felt pain than ordinary citizens do. This is, in part, a function of the philosophical and valuational presuppositions accompanying the development of modern reductionistic Newtonian Science. In the 20th century, these presuppositions were hardened into an ideology affirming that science (and medicine) could not deal with the subjective experience or make value judgments, including ethical judgments. Control of felt pain, and the moral imperative favoring such control, were both bracketed by this ideology. With recent major changes in social ethics, however, and with recent realizations that pain is biologically active, both human and veterinary medicine can no longer ignore the moral and medical dimensions of felt pain.
Rollin
B E
BE
Department of Philosophy, Colorado State University, Fort Collins 80523-1781, USA.
D000700:Analgesics / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000777:Anesthetics / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000827:Animal Welfare; D000818:Animals; D006801:Humans; D010146:Pain / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000662:veterinary*; D010686:Philosophy, Medical; D014730:Veterinary Medicine
D000700:Analgesics; D000777:Anesthetics