Presentation of the book "The Principles and Practice of Narrative Medicine": Hatziyanneio
SOS DOCTORS in collaboration with the Deputy Mayor of Culture and Science of the Municipality of Larissa, the Pulmonary Clinic of the University of Thessaly and the Kaltsas Bookstore, are organizing the presentation of the book "The Principles and Practice of Narrative Medicine".
The event will take place on Wednesday, January 25, 2023 at 19:00 in the event hall of the Hadzigianni Spiritual Center. (The entrance is free).
The event will be moderated by journalist Andreas Iourmetakis.
The book will be discussed by:
• Konstantinos Gourgoulianis
Pulmonologist, Professor of Medicine and Former Rector of the University of Thessaly
• George Theocharis
Pathologist, President of SOS DOCTORS, Director of the Pathology Clinic of the Athens Euroclinic
• Ilias Kourkoutas
Clinical Psychologist, Professor PTDE University of Crete
• George-Ikaros Babasakis
Poet, Translator, Author
After "Human Medicine", the book "The Principles and Practice of Narrative Medicine" is the second book in the "Medical Humanities" series, which is published under the scientific direction and editorship of Giorgos Theoharis, Pathologist and President of SOS DOCTORS.
Narrative medicine is a growing field in healthcare. It began as a theoretical and practical discipline to enhance medical care by improving the ability of physicians to receive and understand patients' descriptions of themselves.
Although in Greece it is a pioneering and new field with increasing appeal and influence, narrative medicine has been, since 2001, a compulsory course at Columbia University School of Medicine and has spread to various medical schools in the world (Canada, Paris, etc.). ).
Physicians attempt to gain a deeper understanding of how the experiences of patients affect their health.
Practicing this type of medicine encourages patients to tell their stories, a process that will help doctors more effectively deal with disease by leveraging the information they gather about their patients' lives.
What is the purpose of practicing narrative medicine?
Narrative medicine utilizes works of the humanities and arts with the aim of helping to improve the education of physicians and nursing staff. Dealing with works of art and literature, under the guidance of trained coordinators, helps to expand the ability of physicians to understand the manifestations of their patients' lives leading to both self-awareness and awareness of the other person. The above process delimits the real goals of medicine in general: empathy, altruism, cooperation and trust.
According to Rita Charon, MD, PhD, a Columbia University professor and founder of the field, "narrative medicine provides a powerful means of bridging the divides that separate doctors and patients."
It recommends a more holistic approach to disease, beyond symptoms and treatment options, to consider the patient as a whole, taking into account their unique needs, beliefs and values.
What are the main concepts that form the basis for the practice of narrative medicine?
Narrative medicine is based on careful reading and contemplative writing. It is a meeting of modern theories of literature, aesthetics, cinema and philosophical currents with medicine. Its main axis is also the concept of intersubjectivity, ie the meeting of two individual (subjective) consciousnesses, a process that helps to create a deeper bond between the two sides, in this case between doctor and patient, a field that should always be the focus of medical care.
Medicine is not a science but an "art" based on science. It needs the assistance of the other arts, especially the humanities, and indeed the modern ones, as they deal with the modern man.
Based on humanistic principles and understandings, narrative medicine aims and ultimately contributes to a medical care based on trust and reliability, humility and mutual recognition.
