Medical humanities: some uses and problems

Downie, R. (2016) Medical humanities: some uses and problems. Journal of the Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh, 46(4), pp. 288-294. (doi: 10.4997/JRCPE.2016.416) (PMID:28504787)

Abstract

The arts and humanities were allowed into the British medical curriculum in 1993 when the General Medical Council re-structured it in a paper entitled 'Tomorrow's Doctors'. Since then many medical schools have developed humanities modules and the broad term 'medical humanities' refers to these. They can contribute to medical education in at least three ways: as a supplement to what is already in the curriculum, especially for ethics and communication; as an outside critique of medical practice; and to personal and professional development. Nevertheless, there are practical problems concerning appropriate teachers and methods of assessment. Moreover, the dominant interest is now academic research rather than education.

• Item Type: Articles
• Keywords: Communication, critique of medicine,, ethics, medical education, medical humanities, professional development.
• Status: Published
• Refereed: Yes
• Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID: Downie, Professor Robert
• Authors: Downie, R.
• College/School: College of Arts > School of Humanities > Philosophy
• Journal Name: Journal of the Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh
• Publisher: Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh
• ISSN: 1478-2715
• ISSN (Online): 2042-8189
• Copyright Holders: Copyright © 2016 Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh
• First Published: First published in Journal of the Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh 46(4): 288-294
• Publisher Policy: Reproduced in accordance with the publisher copyright policy