International and multi-faith in scope, this important text engages with the need to integrate the scientific basis of healthcare more fully with spiritual, religious and ethical values. Based on the principle of ‘medicine of the person', an attitude that embeds personal relationships and ethics in medical practice, the text considers the ideas of Paul Tournier, an influential figure whose thinking has had a substantial impact on the spiritual and psychosocial aspects of routine patient care, particularly in national health services. Bridging the gap between the basic sciences and faith traditions, the contributors cover notions of personhood in different faiths, and its consideration in spirituality and mental health issues, general practice issues, public health, home care for the elderly and neuroscience. This volume offers a broad spectrum of approaches to the needs of patients that is central to the students of the health disciplines and managers in these fields.
Foreword.; Julia Neuberger.; Acknowledgements.; Preface.; John Cox, Professor of Psychiatry, University of Keele.; 1. Introduction: At the Heart of Healing. K.W.M. (Bill) Fulford, University of Warwick, Alastair V. Campbell, University of Bristol and John Cox. PART 1 - Medicine of the Person: Paul Tournier's Vision.; 2. The Man and his Message. Hans Ruedi Pfeiffer, Psychotherapist, Zurich, Switzerland and John Cox.; 3. Retaining the Person in Medical Science. Bernard Ruedi, Department of Internal Medicine, City Hospital, Neuchatel, Switzerland.; 4. The Bible and Medical Practice. John Clark, Lay Reader, Anglican Church, Exeter.; 5. The Value of Values - Do They Go Deep Enough? Martin Conway, Oxford Diocesan Board for Social Responsibility. PART 2 - Faith Traditions and Medicine of the Person.; 6. Sketch for a Strong Theology of Diversity: Insights from Christian Traditions of Spirituality. Robert Atwell, St Mary-the-Virgin Parish, London and Bill Fulford.; 7. Personhood in Health Care: Jewish approaches. Claire Hilton, Central and North West London Mental Health NHS Trust and Michael Hilton, Kol Chai Hatch End Community.; 8. The Individual Versus the Family: An Islamic and Traditional Societies Perspective. Ahmed Okasha, Institute of Psychiatry, Ain Shams University, Cairo.; 9. Hindu and Ayurvedic Understandings of the Person. Dinesh Bhugra, Institute of Psychiatry, Kings College, London. PART 3 - Medicine of the Person in Contemporary Practice.; 10. Spirituality and Mental Health: Practical Proposals for Action. Peter Gilbert, University of Staffordshire and NIMHE. 11. Beyond the Solitude for Two; Justice, Theology and General Practice. Thierry Collaud, University of Fribourg and General Pratitioner, Neuchatel, Switzerland.; 12. Spirituality and Care: A Public Health Perspective. Tom Fryers, Visiting Professor, Public Mental Health.; 13. Emergence of Home Health Care: A holistic Response to Aging and Consumer Empowerment. Mike Magee, Medical Humanities Institute, USA.; 14. Neuroscience and Belief: A Christian Perspective. Andrew Sims, University of Leeds.; The Contributors.; Subject Index.; Author Index.
This book is timely in the current context of our increasingly multi-faith society and the revived interest in the spiritual aspects of health, and health care. It seeks to encourage the reader to challenge the conventional medical approach, which is to treat the condition, rather than exploring how the culture or background of the individual might impact on the condition and subsequent treatment. This is a good introductory text to the topic and its relevance to health practice today. The authors suggest that ""medicine of the person"" could make an essential contribution to the current demand in the health services for patient-centred care.
