As the fields of philosophy of medicine and bioethics have developed in theUnited States the philosophical perspective of phenomenology has been largelyignored.... » 

As the fields of philosophy of medicine and bioethics have developed in theUnited States the philosophical perspective of phenomenology has been largelyignored. Yet the central conviction that informs this volume is thatphenomenology provides extraordinary insights into many of the issues that aredirectly addressed within the world of medicine. Such issues include thenature of medicine itself the distinction between immediate experience andscientific conceptualization the nature of the body and the implications ofembodiment in the realm of clinical practice the meaning of health illnessand disease the problem of intersubjectivity particularly with respect toachieving successful communication with another the complexity of decisionmaking in the clinical context and in the realm of medical ethics thepossibility of empathic understanding the theory and method of clinicalpractice and the essential characteristics of the therapeutic relationship i.e. the relationship between the sick person and the one who professes tohelp. Some of the authors who have contributed to this volume are philosopherssome are engaged in other academic disciplines and several are practicinghealthcare professionals. TOCPFrom the contents BRAcknowledgements.Introduction. Section One Phenomenology and Medicine. Section Two TheBody. Section Three Lived Experience. Section Four Clinical Practice.Section Five Medical Ethics. Section Six Research. Notes on Contributors.Index.P «