Learning Objectives

• Outline the historical origins of the medical profession, and the legacy of Hippocrates
• Discuss the role of a doctor in the light of the WHO definition of health
• Describe evidence-based medicine
• Define and describe the terms disease, illness and sickness
• Analyse the differences between biomedical and social constructions of health
• Reflect on/ describe the impact of different world views on the experience of health and illness
• Define paternalism and critique its impact on clinical care
• Describe the patient-centered clinical interview and cite the patient-centered clinical method
• Discuss the importance of the patient ‘in context’ in providing clinical care

History of Medicine

• what did prehistoric medicine involve?
• what did ancient Egyptian medicine involve?
• what is the Staff of Asclepius?
• why is the Hippocratic legacy so important?
• what impact did Galen have?
• who delivered medicine in the Middle Ages?
• what did the Edict of Palermo do?
• what is the significance of the Black Death?