Rediscovering the meaning in medicine: lessons from the dying on the ethics of experience.
Modern medicine is currently confronting a crisis of meaning that is manifesting in a dispirited and demoralized profession. Palliative medicine and the care of patients with incurable diseases provide clinicians with an opportunity to rediscover the meaning in their work. In particular, with its emphasis on compassion, palliative medicine reconnects us to the Socratic ideal and an "ethics of experience." Our rediscovery of this perennial philosophy is necessary if we are to develop the wisdom necessary to containing our enormous scientific capabilities.
Duffy
James
J
University of Connecticut School of Medicine, Farmington, Connecticut 06030, USA. Duffy@psychiatry.uchc.edu
D001293:Attitude to Death; D004992:Ethics, Medical; D006801:Humans; D010166:Palliative Care / Q000523:psychology*; D010686:Philosophy, Medical; D010820:Physicians / Q000523:psychology*; D013727:Terminal Care / Q000941:ethics*