Biomaterial Database

Science in medicine: too much or too little and too limited in scope? 1988

L Eisenberg

Department of Social Medicine and Health Policy, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts 02115.

Contrary to the common assertion that there is too much science in medicine, it is precisely the application of the natural sciences in the clinic that has enhanced the diagnostic and therapeutic powers of the physician. Much of the criticism of science in medicine mistakes the technology made possible by science, and the way that technology is employed, for science itself. What has hampered progress is too narrow a view of the sciences relevant to medicine. The concepts and methods of the social sciences must be integrated into medical education if physicians are to be enabled to respond effectively to illness as a human experience. Nonetheless, without major changes in the social context of medical practice, efforts to improve performance through curriculum reform will be futile.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D010686	Philosophy, Medical	The underlying rationale or theoretical basis for the principles of MEDICINE.	Medical Philosophy
D010817	Physician-Patient Relations	The interactions between physician and patient.	Doctor-Patient Relations,Doctor Patient Relations,Physician Patient Relations,Physician Patient Relationship,Doctor Patient Relation,Doctor-Patient Relation,Physician Patient Relation,Physician Patient Relationships,Physician-Patient Relation,Relation, Doctor Patient,Relation, Doctor-Patient,Relation, Physician Patient,Relation, Physician-Patient,Relations, Doctor Patient,Relations, Doctor-Patient,Relations, Physician Patient,Relations, Physician-Patient,Relationship, Physician Patient,Relationships, Physician Patient
D004501	Education, Medical	Use for general articles concerning medical education.	Medical Education
D012586	Science	The study of natural phenomena by observation, measurement, and experimentation.	Sciences
D012942	Social Sciences	Disciplines concerned with the interrelationships of individuals in a social environment including social organizations and institutions. Includes Sociology and Anthropology.	Science, Social,Sciences, Social,Social Science