CURE Quote
As Lawrie Reznek contends, philosophy is germane to the discussion concerning the nature of disease: “Philosophy cannot cure disease, but it certainly can cure inappropriate disease attribution” It is in this spirit that I undertake a discussion of the notions of illness and wellbeing. The participants in the debate can be divided into two camps: the naturalists and the normativists. According to naturalists, disease and health are descriptive concepts that can be used to define the objective and real state or condition of a person. These concepts are strictly neutral to any personal or social values. According to the normativists, however, these concepts depend upon personal and social values. Reflecting these values, normativists often utilize terms like “illness” and “ wellbeing” to define a person’s subjective or constructed state or condition.
— James A Marcum, An Introductory Philosophy of Medicine Humanizing Modern Medicine (Philosophy and Medicine) (Philosophy and Medicine), 2008-
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Author Archives: Tracy Kolenchuk
Cancer Cure Catch 22
Two medical researchers meet in the university lab. Jim is excited. John is interested. Jim: “I’ve found the cure for cancer! All we need are some clinical studies proving it works and the Nobel Prize in Medicine is ours.” John: … Continue reading
The Case of the Incredible Disappearing Cancer Patients!
It’s almost 20 years since I met my first disappearing patient. A nurse in her early 40s, let’s call her Kate. Kate was diagnosed with breast cancer. As a nurse, she had seen the results of treatments for breast cancer. She was … Continue reading
The Strangest Secret in Modern Medicine
There’s strange secret modern medicine. One we all know, but we don’t like to think about. Let me give you a clue… How many medicines can you name that CURE a disease?
The most Forbidden Word in Modern Medicine
There is a forbidden word in medicine. This word is gradually disappearing, actively shamed, banned to the ‘alternative’ fringes of medicine, and replaced by newfangled, more fashionable terms. It is also being replaced, in many cases, by its opposite. The … Continue reading
What if we found a Cure for Cancer?
What if we found a cure for cancer? Would we know? Would we recognize it? What if someone cured their cancer. Could we tell? Would we believe them? We don’t try to cure cancers. We don’t try to cure cancer … Continue reading