Science and technology have brought about profound changes in the way medicine is practiced. These developments save more lives, but can have a negative impact on psyches and relationships. Thoroughly examining the way medicine is practised in the 21st century, this ground-breaking new book emphasizes the interpersonal, subjective and unconscious processes. It provides important and useful insights into the many ways patients, families and medical practitioners are affected by modern medicine. A Psychodynamic Understanding of Modern Medicine offers profound ways to understand these issues in all their complexity and depth, and demonstrates ways to effectively manage difficulties by drawing on psychoanalytic principles. In so doing, the book directly addresses topics rarely covered from a psychological perspective, such as organ donation, assisted suicide requests, impaired mobility, assisted reproduction, elder abuse, placebos, dialysis units, NICU, general hospital setting, provider-patient relationship and family dynamics with chronic illness. The book is highly recommended to all who are involved with modern medicine. Medical practitioners will have a better means of understanding psychological and interpersonal problems that present themselves in various medical settings. Psychologists and psychiatrists will be more able to intervene when problems occur, including when they involve the interaction between practitioner and patient or family. It is also illuminating reading for students with an interest in medical anthropology, and social and narrative medicine, and for nurses and medical social workers.

In recent years it has become very clear that there are considerable differences, both across countries and within countries, in the treatments offered by doctors to apparently similar patients. The Challenges of Medical Practice Variations discusses and examines a number of variations in practice: why they exist, their implications for effectiveness, efficiency and equity; and what should be done about them in terms of both health policy and research. This book sees such practice variations as a challenging and promising stepping-stone towards a necessary reassessment of today's, and tomorrow's, health services. A major cross-disciplinary effort is called for, and the authors, with their diverse backgrounds, provide the necessary components for just such an effort. The book will be of value not only to health economists. It has been written primarily to appeal to other healthcare professionals and students, and introduces key elements of current thinking on medical practice variations.

Argues that the pace of medical discoveries has slowed in the last twenty-five years due to excessive emphasis on the social and political aspects of health care, and to controversies caused by ethical issues.

Being a Doctor is much more than simply providing medical care. This book aims to increase the resilience and wellness of doctors, helping the profession to provide better care for patients, through a deep and thoughtful approach to clinical work. It explores areas that can challenge clinicians in all stages of their career: the doctor - patient relationship, adverse outcomes, the 'heartsink' experience, and functional illness. The authors also introduce self-care of the doctor and patient safety, two important issues for modern medicine. This is a unique text that draws links between the philosophy of modern medicine and clinical tasks such as consulting skills, the doctor patient relationship, patient safety, reflective practice and doctors' self care. It is written in an accessible style and is firmly grounded in real-life clinical and teaching experience. The authors believe each doctor, as a person, is inseparable from the task of delivering medical care. Enhancing our ability to deliver that care is essential for patients, communities and society. Just as patients need 'whole person' care, the profession needs 'whole person' doctors. Being a doctor, and deriving meaning from clinical experience, are at the heart of this book.