If medicine is so great, why are people getting sick? Why don’t people turn up for follow-up checks or take their pills properly? And why do patients sometimes seem to come from another planet?Medicine doesn’t happen in a vacuum. It happens between doctors and patients, who seem to inhabit very different worlds. It’s not enough to think about medicine. We need to think more about patients.Originally published in 2001 and reissued here with a new preface, Thinking About ...

This introduction to the philosophy of medicine surveys the landscape of western philosophy as it pertains to healthcare in an accessible way. Written by a doctor for doctors and other health professionals, framing the 'toolbox' of philosophy within the community of medicine, it encourages examination of the implicit assumptions made in the construction of medical knowledge and practice.Taking the reader step by step through the concepts that underpin modern philosophy, they will b...

This introduction to the philosophy of medicine surveys the landscape of western philosophy as it pertains to healthcare in an accessible way. Written by a doctor for doctors and other health professionals, framing the "toolbox" of philosophy within the community of medicine, it encourages examination of the implicit assumptions made in the construction of medical knowledge and practice.Taking the listener step by step through the concepts that underpin modern philosophy, they will...

**A FINANCIAL TIMES BEST BOOK OF THE YEARSeven Deadly Sins will explore the underlying nature of the seven deadly sins, their neuroscientific and psychological basis, and their origin in our genes.**Gluttony. Greed. Sloth. Pride. Envy. Lust. Anger. These are The Seven Deadly Sins, the vices of humankind that define immorality. But do these sins really represent moral failings, or are they simply important and useful biological functions that humans need to...

Highly acclaimed in its first three editions, McWhinney's Textbook of Family Medicine is one of the seminal texts in the field. While many family medicine texts simply cover the disorders a practitioner might see in clinical practice, McWhinney's defines the principles and practices of family medicine as a separate and distinct field of practice. The fourth edition presents six new clinical chapters of common problems in family medicine: respiratory illness, musculoskeletal pain, ...

This text aims to be useful and relevant for student nurses from all backgrounds with a range of professional aspirations. It demonstrates the importance of psychology in both the nursing role and in health care in general.

The Strategy of Preventive Medicine, by Geoffrey Rose, first published in 1993 remains a key text for anyone involved in preventive medicine. Rose's insights into the inextricable relationship between ill health, or deviance, in individuals and populations they come from, have transformed our whole approach to strategies for improving health. His personal and unique book, based on many years research, sets out the case that the essential determinants of the health of society are to be foun...

For many health care professionals and social service providers, the hardest part of the job is breaking bad news. The news may be about a condition that is life-threatening (such as cancer or AIDS), disabling (such as multiple sclerosis or rheumatoid arthritis), or embarrassing (such as genital herpes). To date medical education has done little to train practitioners in coping with such situations. With this guide Robert Buckman and Yvonne Kason provide help.Using plain, intelligi...

Dementia care presents a huge challenge to health and social care both now and in the future. The number of those in the UK with dementia is expected to increase to 1.4 million in the next 30 years. Regardless of the field of nursing, all nurses need to understand the experiences of a person with dementia and the issues related to their care. This book provides an introduction to dementia care for nursing students with an emphasis on humanizing care. Real life case studies show the person ...

This exceptional work explores the complexities of communication at one of the most critical stages of the life experience--during advanced, serious illness and at the end of life. Challenging the predominantly biomedical model that informs much communication between seriously ill and/or dying patients and their physicians, caregivers, and families, Sandra L. Ragan, Elaine M. Wittenberg-Lyles, Joy Goldsmith, and Sandra Sanchez-Reilly pose palliative care--medical care designed to comfort r...

'In Search of Dignity' is a collection of candid and insightful publications from one of the world's leading palliative care researchers. It follows Dr. Harvey Max Chochinov's decades-long career, beginning as a young psychiatrist from the University of Manitoba to his experience at the prestigious Cornell Medical College and Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Centre. Shaped by patient interaction, his deeply human journey formed the basis of a novel program of research and clinical innovatio...

This new and expanded edition is aimed directly at the learning needs of student nurses and is unique in that context. Whilst there are many high quality books available for academic study in palliative care this is currently the only one that balances a strong educational focus for developing nursing practice with an understanding of the particular needs of student nurses. The text maintains a sensitive and supportive approach to the key themes of palliative care nursing, but contains imp...