The Silent World of Doctor and Patient - Softcover

Katz, Jay

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0801857805 ISBN 13: 9780801857805

Publisher: Johns Hopkins University Press, 2002

Synopsis

In this eye-opening look at the doctor-patient decision-making process, physician and law professor Jay Katz examines the time-honored belief in the virtue of silent care and patient compliance. Historically, the doctor-patient relationship has been based on a one-way trust―despite recent judicial attempts to give patients a greater voice through the doctrine of informed consent. Katz criticizes doctors for encouraging patients to relinquish their autonomy, and demonstrates the detrimental effect their silence has on good patient care. Seeing a growing need in this age of medical science and sophisticated technology for more honest and complete communication between physician and patients, he advocates a new, informed dialogue that respects the rights and needs of both sides.

In a new foreword to this edition of The Silent World of Doctor and Patient, Alexander Morgan Capron outlines the changes in medical ethics practice that have occurred since the book was first published in 1984, paying particular attention to the hotly debated issues of physician-assisted suicide and informed consent in managed care.

About this title

Review:

"A remarkable book... Goes a long way towards ending the silence that ultimately dehumanizes both doctor and patient."

(Business Week)

"What gives this book unusual power is Dr. Katz's understanding of the historical origins of doctors' silence and his perceptive analysis of the relationship between doctor and patient that has led to this silent state."

(Wall Street Journal)

"Jay Katz's poetic manifesto... will no doubt long be noted as a milestone on the rehumanization effort."

(New England Journal of Medicine)

"A thoughtful analysis of the doctor-patient relationship and informed consent: clearly a labor of love based on years in medicine, law, psychiatry, and psychoanalysis."

(New Physician)

"As compelling and vital as it was when it appeared two decades ago. Tragically its critique of contemporary medicine still is right... A classic. It merits attention and discussion."

(Stanley J. Reiser, MD, MPA, PhD Journal of the American Medical Association)

"A much-needed addition to the bioethical canon. "

(Syd M. Johnson Metapsychology)

Synopsis:

In this exploration of the doctor-patient decision-making process, the author examines the belief in the virtue of silent care and patient compliance. Historically, the doctor-patient relationship has been based on a one-way trust - despite judicial attempts to give patients a greater voice through the doctrine of informed consent. Katz criticizes doctors for encouraging patients to relinquish their autonomy and demonstrates the detrimental effect their silence has on good patient care. He sees a growing need in the age of medical science and sophisticated technology for more honest and complete communication between physician and patients and advocates an informed dialogue which respects the rights and needs of both sides. In a new foreword to this edition, Alexander Morgan Capron outlines the changes in medical ethics practice which have occurred since the book was first published in 1984, paying particular attention to the hotly debated issues of physician-assisted suicide and informed consent in managed care.

About this edition

• Publisher: Johns Hopkins University Press
• Publication date: 2002
• ISBN 10: 0801857805
• ISBN 13: 9780801857805
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 314