A Flourishing Practice?

2014 | Medical & Veterinary

A Flourishing Practice? looks at the moral problems that currently seem prevalent in health care. Common moral dilemmas highlighted by the media include threats to continuity of care, inappropriate care at the end of life, problems associated with commercialisation and privatisation of health care, defensiveness and risk aversion, and unrealistic expectations of care. The author argues that these all arise from a fundamental fragmentation of the value systems guiding our lives. The solution to these crises of professionalism and the pervading sense of moral crisis is the creation of a shared narrative. In this model of health care professionals and patients work together to cultivate the personal qualities that they need to flourish. Peter Toon is the leading writer on primary care virtue ethics and this thought-provoking book builds on the thinking of philosopher Alasdair MacIntyre. In A Flourishing Practice? the author: analyses the moral confusion facing health care today suggests a way forward based on cooperation rather than consumerism explores what this means for disease and illness re-examines professionalism considers the personal qualities professionals and patients need to live well and die well discusses the structures and institutions that health care needs to flourish.

The book offers a vision for health care that benefits patients and professionals alike - and signposts possible solutions to current moral crises.

Peter Toon (Author)