THE IMPORTANCE OF A HOLISTIC CONCEPT OF HEALTH FOR HEALTH-CARE - EXAMPLES FROM THE CLINIC

One of my main points in this study is that the knowledge of orthodox medical theory is an incomplete guide for practical action when relati ng to our patients' specifically human problems. By following a holist ic perspective on patients' health and on our medical enterprise we wi ll be more efficient as doctors. This standpoint is illuminated by mea ns of two case reports. Instead of focusing on symptoms as such and le tting them refer to orthodox medical theory, I explicitly relate to th e patients as if they are conveying a personal meaning by means of exp erienced symptoms. The experience of illness could be a successful str ategy on the existential level although destructive on the technical b iological level. A holistic theory of health can give doctors a good c onceptual base when relating to people whose presented illnesses are t o be regarded explicitly as their way of making themselves understood. The doctor's understanding of the patient's illness, of the theory of health, and of bow health is regained, is dependent on the doctor's h aving the courage to reduce the distance to the patient, the courage t o participate and be changed.