The Anatomy of Hope: How People Prevail in the Face of Illness
http://www.100md.com
《新英格兰医药杂志》
In this book, Jerome Groopman shares with readers what he has learned about the need to keep hope alive, especially in the face of serious illness. The key themes he explores are the extent to which hope features in the experience of patients with chronic and terminal illnesses; the importance of hope in enabling patients, families, friends, and physicians to meet the challenges of serious illness; the various forms that hope can take; and the role of the physician in fostering or at least not extinguishing hope. Groopman discusses these problems through a series of thoughtful case histories, which will doubtless resonate with both clinicians and nonmedical readers. He then adds a summary of some current research into the physiological basis of what we call hope.
The brief foray into the scientific understanding of hope, though of some interest, is in many ways a diversion from the main focus of this thoughtful book. The Anatomy of Hope is not about the science of medicine but, instead, examines the art of medicine. Reading it, I had a strong sense that a driving force behind the writing of this book was the author's wish to speak directly to clinicians, specifically to those responsible — especially through example — for the education of future generations of doctors. Groopman has learned the hard way about the important role hope can have in the experience of illness, and he wants to share these lessons. Just as parents know how painful it can be to watch one's child learn through painful mistakes, experienced doctors realize that the art of medicine is rarely acquired without mistakes. Unfortunately, when doctors make errors, patients must also pay the price, and in appealing to doctors not to underestimate the part they can play in fostering hope, Groopman clearly believes that both doctors and patients have something to gain.
Somewhat lost within the text of this lovely book is a chapter in which the author tells of his own painful experience of a temporary loss of hope, the result of debilitating back pain. This understated chapter would have merited placement at the forefront of the book with a clear statement about why it was included. If I had to guess, I would say that as a result of his experience, Groopman knows the dreadful price that patients can pay when hope is lost, and the pivotal role that physicians can have in fostering and restoring that hope. He knows how ill prepared young doctors are for this task, how deeply older physicians regret lost opportunities, and how grateful patients are when physicians care.
Deborah Kirklin, M.B., B.Ch.
University College London Centre for Medical Humanities
London N19 3UA, United Kingdom
d.kirklin@ucl.ac.uk(By Jerome Groopman. 248 p)
The brief foray into the scientific understanding of hope, though of some interest, is in many ways a diversion from the main focus of this thoughtful book. The Anatomy of Hope is not about the science of medicine but, instead, examines the art of medicine. Reading it, I had a strong sense that a driving force behind the writing of this book was the author's wish to speak directly to clinicians, specifically to those responsible — especially through example — for the education of future generations of doctors. Groopman has learned the hard way about the important role hope can have in the experience of illness, and he wants to share these lessons. Just as parents know how painful it can be to watch one's child learn through painful mistakes, experienced doctors realize that the art of medicine is rarely acquired without mistakes. Unfortunately, when doctors make errors, patients must also pay the price, and in appealing to doctors not to underestimate the part they can play in fostering hope, Groopman clearly believes that both doctors and patients have something to gain.
Somewhat lost within the text of this lovely book is a chapter in which the author tells of his own painful experience of a temporary loss of hope, the result of debilitating back pain. This understated chapter would have merited placement at the forefront of the book with a clear statement about why it was included. If I had to guess, I would say that as a result of his experience, Groopman knows the dreadful price that patients can pay when hope is lost, and the pivotal role that physicians can have in fostering and restoring that hope. He knows how ill prepared young doctors are for this task, how deeply older physicians regret lost opportunities, and how grateful patients are when physicians care.
Deborah Kirklin, M.B., B.Ch.
University College London Centre for Medical Humanities
London N19 3UA, United Kingdom
d.kirklin@ucl.ac.uk(By Jerome Groopman. 248 p)