The Soul of Medicine

Spiritual Perspectives and Clinical Practice

John R Peteet editor Michael N D'Ambra editor

Format:Hardback

Publisher:Johns Hopkins University Press

Published:25th Nov '11

Currently unavailable, and unfortunately no date known when it will be back

The Soul of Medicine cover

To what extent should spiritual information be part of patients' medical assessments? How should physicians respond when patients refuse life-saving care on religious grounds? Should doctors pray with their patients? Questions such as these raise deeper ones about the goals of medicine and the nature of healing. In a set of engaging and candid essays, The Soul of Medicine explores the role and influence of spirituality in clinical practice, professionalism, and medical education. The contributors to this volume approach this topic from their own spiritual perspectives-Jewish, Christian, Muslim, Buddhist, Hindu, New Age/Eclectic, secular, Jehovah's Witnesses, and Christian Scientist. Their thought-provoking essays produce rich insights not only into the needs of patients who share these same world views but also into how spirituality influences the practice of medicine. When their own spiritual issues arise in medical practice, physicians rely on their professionalism, ethics, and education. To better understand how various world views are incorporated into clinical work, doctors must ask themselves-as these contributors have-a series of important questions: What insights about life and healing does your faith provide? How does it challenge or reinforce contemporary medicine? How do you assess and address spirituality in clinical practice? How do your own beliefs influence your interactions with patients? The Soul of Medicine encourages medical students and practitioners to recognize the spiritual dimensions of medicine, to consider how these dimensions inform their own education and practice, and to be compassionate about their patients'-and their own-religious beliefs.

A helpful, important contribution to understanding the role of spirituality in the lives of medical professionals. Choice Valuable. -- John L. Zeller JAMA What a gem of a book! If you have ever wondered what other faith traditions believe when it comes to illness, dying, and death or if you have ever wondered how medical practitioners think about their particular faith tradition, this book is invaluable. In easy to understand language (especially with regard to religions that might be foreign to many readers), the book explores the world views of different faith traditions as well as offering suggestions on caring for those from those traditions. -- P. Fosarelli Journal of Religion and Health

ISBN: 9781421402994

Dimensions: 229mm x 152mm x 23mm

Weight: 680g

272 pages