American Medicine (PDF)

American Medicine

by Mary-Jo DelVecchio Good (Author)

In today’s medical world, what does it truly mean to be a competent doctor? From new biotechnologies to the threat of malpractice suits, there are numerous challenges that healthcare professionals must navigate to ensure they provide quality care to their patients. These challenges are explored in the book titled, “Competence in Modern Society: Healthcare, Law, and Everyday Life” written by Mary-Jo DelVecchio Good, a distinguished anthropologist. This book is the first of its kind to fully examine the politics and meaning of competence in modern American medicine.

Good has conducted ethnographic studies of three distinct medical communities to explore the challenges of competence in healthcare. In this book, she examines the lives of physicians in rural California, academics and students involved in Harvard Medical School’s innovative “New Pathway” curriculum, and oncologists working on breast cancer treatment. Through these studies, she demonstrates the centrality of the issue of competence throughout the medical world. Competence, it shows, provides the framework for discussing the power struggles between rural general practitioners and specialists, organizational changes in medical education, and the clinical narratives of high-technology oncologists.

“Competence in Modern Society: Healthcare, Law, and Everyday Life” is a timely and provocative study that is essential reading for medical professionals, academics, anthropologists, and sociologists, as well as health-care policymakers. The book truly explores the meaning of competence and its everyday implications. The author has managed to capture the voices of practitioners, students, and academics who describe what competence means to them and reveal their frustrations with medical-legal institutions, malpractice, and the limitations of peer review and medical training.

One of the most impressive things about the book is how it offers a comparative perspective on the meaning of competence in medicine across diverse communities. The personal insights and experiences from the three unique medical communities studied by the author are fascinating and shed light on the broader societal challenges of healthcare, law, and everyday life.

For instance, Good’s study on rural Californian physicians uncovers the unique challenges faced by general practitioners working in a comparatively isolated medical community. The study shines a light on the unequal power dynamics that exist between rural physicians and specialists. On the other hand, the study on Harvard Medical School’s “New Pathway” curriculum reveals the struggles of medical students in the United States. It highlights the challenges students face while learning traditional medical theories and practices while also trying to incorporate new, more innovative approaches to healthcare delivery.

The study of oncologists working on breast cancer treatment provides yet another fascinating perspective. Here, the author delves into the personal and professional experiences of oncologists who are confronted with complex legal and ethical issues on a daily basis. These include the limitations of peer review and the need to balance science, technology, expertise, and compassion when treating patients.

Overall, the author’s analysis is deeply insightful. The work invites readers to consider the importance and meaning of competence in medicine from a broader perspective. Moreover, the work offers practical solutions to many of the current challenges faced by the medical community, including healthcare reform.

In conclusion, “Competence in Modern Society: Healthcare, Law, and Everyday Life” is a must-read for anyone involved or interested in the healthcare industry. Its compelling insights on the meaning of competence and its broader implications will challenge your thinking and perspective. The book is available at all leading online and offline bookstores. So, if you are looking for a comprehensive insight into modern American medicine and the role of competence, don’t hesitate to order your copy today.