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Narrative as a medium of virtue and practice in medicine

  • Korean Journal of Medical Ethics
  • Abbr : 의료윤리
  • 2011, 14(1), pp.1-11
  • DOI : 10.35301/ksme.2011.14.1.1
  • Publisher : The Korean Society For Medical Ethics
  • Research Area : Medicine and Pharmacy > General Medicine
  • Published : March 31, 2011

김진경 1

1동아대학교

Accredited

ABSTRACT

Every human being is a “narrative being” in the sense that he or she has a life story. It is not advisable, or even technicall possible, for a physician to separate a patient’s life history when making medical decisions. The best medical decision-making involves the patient, the physician, and concerned family members who come together to mediate conflicts that may arise through the patient’s life stories, rather than merely relying on regulations and principles. The ability to understand the meaning and importance of a patient’s life story is an important one for physicians to have. Physicians with this ability form stronger bonds with patients. This article examines some of the problems caused by scientific medicine and emphasizes the importance of patients’ life experiences and physicians’ willingness to listen to and understand patients’ lifenarratives.

Citation status

* References for papers published after 2023 are currently being built.

This paper was written with support from the National Research Foundation of Korea.