Personalistic and Naturalistic Systems of Medicine, Essay Example

I do think that the system of medicine in this country would benefit from adding characteristics of the personalistic system of medicine to it. The personalisitic medicine system takes into account the whole body and the whole being. With this, disease refers to the actual condition being suffered and illness is how the person actually feels or their suffering from the disease. In my opinion, an advantage of the personalistic system is treating a person’s total well-being by not forgetting that the mind has an impact on how a person feels, and this can influence a patient’s diagnosis. Doctors have a better chance of figuring out what is causing a patient’s symptoms by understanding how they feel physically, mentally and emotionally. This is also an avenue for a closer doctor-patient relationship which can also bring out information that may otherwise be hidden. Also, proper treatment depends on an accurate diagnosis, so the personalistic system concept gives a broader view of what might be wrong with the patient, and when a disease diagnosis is made, then it gives the patient more peace of mind (O’Neil).

What Murphy means by the “damaged self” is a part of the self feels like an outcast and the person with a disability feels shameful and they have a low perception of themselves and how they view the world around them (Murphy). If in this situation, I would feel so sad, because people are often rude or cruel to the disabled. The disabled are misunderstood and stereotyped by many people, and dealing with people’s reactions would be difficult. I suppose I would attempt to get people to understand that I was really no different than they were on the inside, just my outside was “damaged.”

References

Murphy, R. F. The Body Silent: The Different World of the Disabled. W. W. Norton & Company, 2001. Print. 15 February 2013.

O’Neil, D. How Illness is Traditionally Perceived. 2012. Web. 15 February 2013. <http://anthro.palomar.edu/medical/default.htm>.