Medical anthropology
Seguín, C.A.
Acta Psiquiatrica y Psicologica de America Latina 33(1): 60-62
1987
ISSN/ISBN: 0001-6896 PMID: 3661227 Document Number: 297180
The title should be understood as a world play--since, obviously, Medicine is not bound to be considered a new branch of Anthropology. The author comments the different historical approaches which focused on the problem of disease as such. I.E., in times past, medical thinkers considered disease as a self-existing entity absolutely unrelated to the individual who, however, was suffering from it. Quite contrary, disease should be envisioned as the response the living system sets against physiological, psychological, and/or social stimuli which severely affect its equilibrium. So, 'feeling well' means more than being free of illness. It means Man ought to enjoy his vital gifts fully within a twofold relationship, with himself and the environment as well. Hence, in future, Medicine is to comprehend Man as a whole. In other words, healing is no longer to be the sole duty of Medicine to come. Aiming at bringing health up to perfection will be its major commitment.