Getz, L: Sustainable and responsible preventive medicine

Preventive medicine is among the most expansive activities in contemporary healthcare. The discipline however faces major practical, ethical and epistemic challenges. Linn Getz argues that individually oriented preventive medicine is becoming so risk focused, technified and dehumanized that its integrity and clinical potential may begin to deteriorate. Departing from everyday, clinical scenarios including cardiovascular disease prevention and pregnancy care, she documents that the current knowledge foundation and theoretical underpinnings of modern, preventive medicine are too limited. Despite the medical profession s intent to do good, these fundamental shortcomings imply a potential for inflicting harm, both on the individual and societal level. Some prerequisites for a more sustainable and responsible preventive medicine are outlined. This work is based on an innovative doctoral thesis where empirical research is combined with theoretical reflections with reference to scholars such as Martin Heidegger, Hans Jonas, Charles Taylor, Ivan Illich, Arthur Frank, Drew Leder, Ian McWhinney, Gro Harlem Brundtland and Eric Cassell.