Liberating Medicine David Seedhouse Unit for the Study of Health Care Ethics, Department of General Practice, University of Liverpool, UK Amid the increasing debate about the practice of medicine and the delivery of health care lie certain fundamental questions: What is the purpose of medicine? What is the role of the medical profession? and Where should the limits of medical intervention be set? In a world of rapid scientific and technological advance, public expectations place increasing demands on the doctors skills, and the scope of medical practice needs constantly to be redefined. Yet few guidelines exist on how to go about this. Liberating Medicine is designed to help doctors and health care professionals to understand the role, scope and purpose of their work, by showing that through heightened recognition of possible goals and potential limits, doctors will be more free to select the most beneficial targets for their health work, to plan their strategies for care freely within their practice, and to be able to liberate more fulfilling potentials in those for whom they care. Although rooted in theoretical analysis the book is essentially practical. It contains teaching exercises, a model which can be used to show doctors how close to the limits of practice they are, and a workable checklist for use in interactions with individual patients. All those involved in the study and practice of medicinebut particularly medical students and their teacherswill find this a thought-provoking, stimulating and innovative guide to the philosophical principles of medicine and how these can be applied to everyday practice. Other Related BooksHealth: The Foundations for Achievement David SeedhouseSeptember 1986Ethics: The Heart of Health Care David SeedhouseJuly 1988Changing Ideas in Health Care Edited by David Seedhouse and Alan CribbJune 1989Philosophical Medical Ethics Raanan GillonOctober 1986