Greek medical papyri from the Fayum village of Tebtunis: patient involvement in a local health-care system?
The Greek papyri of medical content from Tebtunis are conspicuous for their quantity and quality, when compared with neighbouring villages. By isolating another feature in which Tebtunis is also unique--namely, in the relatively large number of those of privileged status who maintained residences and left important documents in the village, it would appear that these outsiders were instrumental in interesting the local priests in sophisticated Greek medicine and in bringing medical texts into the village. Tebtunis may thus provide an ancient example of patients influencing the health care available to them and their families when resident in the village.
Hanson
Ann Ellis
AE
D003695:Delivery of Health Care / Q000266:history*; D000076144:Egypt, Ancient; D018645:Greek World / Q000266:history; D049690:History, Ancient; D006801:Humans; D008374:Manuscripts, Medical as Topic / Q000266:history*; D008519:Medicine, Traditional / Q000266:history*; D010358:Patient Participation; D018644:Roman World / Q000266:history*