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F oucault at the bedside: a critical analysis of empowering a healthy lifestyle
Author(s) -
Devisch Ignaas,
Vanheule Stijn
Publication year - 2015
Publication title -
journal of evaluation in clinical practice
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.737
H-Index - 73
eISSN - 1365-2753
pISSN - 1356-1294
DOI - 10.1111/jep.12329
Subject(s) - rehearsing , philosophy of medicine , governmentality , epistemology , empowerment , health care , sociology , michel foucault , clinical practice , political philosophy , psychology , engineering ethics , medicine , politics , alternative medicine , nursing , philosophy , law , political science , art , pathology , visual arts , engineering
Since quite a few years, philosophy is heading towards the bedside of the patient: the practice of philosophy has stepped out of its ivory tower, it seems, to deal with empirical or practical questions. Apart from the advantages, we should keep in mind the importance of a critical analysis of medical or clinical practice as such. If ethics partakes the clinical stage, it runs the risk only to discuss the how question and to forget the more fundamental what or why questions: what are we doing exactly and why is it good for? Starting from the principle of the empowerment of the patient, we will demonstrate how the discourse on empowerment in health care seems to forget a profound reflection upon this principle as such. By rehearsing some basics from the governmentality theory of M ichel F oucault and the actualization of it by N icolas R ose, we will argue how philosophical investigation in medical‐ethical evolutions such as empowerment of the patient is still needed to understand what is really going on in today's clinical practice.