Humanities in medical training and education.
This paper explores how current developments within medical humanities might provide a way to both understand and address the origin of recent events that have left the profession branded as arrogant, out of touch and misguided (2). The arts provide a powerful medium to improve the understanding of the experience of illness. Furthermore the understanding obtained is qualitatively different from that acquired in the traditional doctor-patient encounter. In addition medical humanities can create a space for doctors to reflect on their own practice and experiences. The benefits of using this space are illustrated with four examples of arts-based education delivered to groups of practitioners at different stages in their professional lives.
Kirklin
D
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Medical Humanities Unit, Royal Free and University College Medical School, London. d.kirklin@pcps.ucl.ac.uk
D004501:Education, Medical; D006809:Humanities / Q000193:education*; D006801:Humans; D008513:Medicine in Literature; D010817:Physician-Patient Relations; D006113:United Kingdom