Interacting With The Medical Humanities: The Doctor-Patient Relationship (Out of Print)

Abstract This unit focuses on basic themes of the doctor-patient relationship. It sets the stage for a larger web-based project that uses art, literature, video and audio skits, and interviews to explore the art of medicine. The project emphasizes materials that have immediate bearing on clinical medicine and medical culture. Further, the reflective material, interviews and role plays frequently link to clinical material to show the mutual relevance of the humanities and science content. Though geared primarily to first- and second-year medical students, this unit offers many materials that can be incorporated into clerkships and residency lectures and that also can drive home teachable moments. The unit begins with an inquiry into the nature of the doctor-patient relationship, viewing this as a subset of relationships in general. Students then explore the specifics of the medical relationship. Themes include the conflicting claims of the art and science of medicine, the role of the physician as healer/witness, the precise and humane use of language, and the power and hierarchy of physician self-disclosure. The last section of the unit uses practical examples to identify positive and negative physician behaviors. The first example illustrates multiple physician blunders in an office setting and the second shows a physician's long-term investment in a continuity relationship