From the Indian Journal of Medical Ethics: Medical humanities: a resident doctor's perspective

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22864072

Indian J Med Ethics. 2012 Jul-Sep;9(3):162-4.

Medical humanities: a resident doctor's perspective.

Pauranik A.

Source

Department of Radiology, GS Medical College, Parel, Mumbai, India. dr.anvita@gmail.com

Abstract

The barrage of competitive examinations, overwork, sleep deprivation, and the pressure of expectations all combine to destroy the dreams that resident doctors have when they start medical school. The empathy they had before entering this field fades away, and they eventually become insensitive to their patients. Medical humanities may be the means to halt this trend. Sensitising young minds, using the arts, literature, history and lessons on social issues, may bring about a paradigm shift in these doctors' outlook towards their patients. However, for the humanities to be integrated into medical education, the current curriculum must be modified and made more clinically and socially relevant. Further, the humanities cannot be taught in lecture halls; they need to be integrated into all aspects of medical school. For this, the medical school faculty should be sensitised to, and trained in, humanities education.