Thinking About Medicine An Introduction to the Philosophy of Healthcare

This introduction to the philosophy of medicine surveys the landscape of western philosophy as it pertains to healthcare in an accessible way. Written by a doctor for doctors and other health professionals, framing the 'toolbox' of philosophy within the community of medicine, it encourages examination of the implicit assumptions made in the construction of medical knowledge and practice.

Taking the reader step by step through the concepts that underpin modern philosophy, they will be challenged to reflect upon the premises within clinical practice which might benefit from scrutiny and challenge, including the nature of scientific knowledge, the limits of our biomedical model, the cultural and relational context, and the failure to recognise or manage adequately the fact/value distinction in medicine and healthcare.

The book is an ideal textbook for students of medicine and medical philosophy and will also be of interest to bioethicists, medical sociologists, clinical commissioners and to practicing clinicians in medicine and the allied health professions seeking to improve their understanding of philosophy and ethics and sharpen their critical thinking skills.

Section 1: On Knowing

1. Epistemology I: Introduction and deductive reasoning

2. Epistemology II: Inductive reasoning and empiricism

3. The philosophy of science

4. Anti-realist epistemology

5. The construction of evidence

Section 2: What is there to know About?

6. Ontology

7. Values

8. Ethics

9. Human givens – the conscious self

10. Human givens – the moral self

Section 3: Thinking about Healthcare

11. A philosophy of health

12. Thinking about power

13. Patient or community? Public health

Section 4: Final Thoughts

14. Further study

15. Glossary

Index

David Misselbrook was a Lewisham GP for 30 years, a GP Trainer and GPVTS Course Organiser / Program Director. He was Dean of the Royal Society of Medicine, representing the RSM on the Directors of Continuing Professional Development committee of the Academy of Medical Royal Colleges, which develops and regulates UK CPD. He was President of the Faculty of the History and Philosophy of Medicine at the Society of Apothecaries, and Course Director for the Diploma in the Philosophy of Medicine (DPMSA). He then became Associate Professor of Family Medicine at the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland (RCSI) Bahrain, where he was the ethics lead for the medical school. He convened the Research Ethics Committee and was Chair of the School of Medicine Academic Committee. He was a member of the Bahrain National Health Regulatory Authority CPD Committee and the Bahrain Ministry of Health Internship Committee. He is now semi-retired, with ongoing academic and committee work.