Bohdan W. Wasilewsk
The authors situate modern medicine inside a contested area in which the traditional concept still resonates, even if greatly muted by the background noise of a new rapidly changing societal and professional Gestalt. It does this by recalling the traditional Asklepion ideals which privileged the psychological support of the patient and how its healers, therapists and shamans still reflect that ancient orientation. This paper outlines how a modern medical service, in spite of technical advances, fails to serve the public through the shackling effects of its bureaucracy. There is a mismatch between what society promises and its expectations and the Doctor ‘s current role is illustrative of this conundrum. From the position of a known and esteemed societal figure, he is now merely a flunkey in hock to the state and forced to abandon the vocational and professional persona which formerly constituted his profession. He takes refuge in a narrow area of interest and his vision, dominated by machines and technology, now focuses on a body part, an X- ray image, or a body fluid analysis. The public fails to engage successfully with the new paradigm because of the demonstrable psychological content of illness, often expressed in terms of psychosomatization and chronification. “Dr. Google” (frequently consulted) overwhelms patients by a tsunami of information, often with baleful consequences of depression and anxiety. These syndromes are considered from an archaic evolutionary perspective as is the related concept of thanatosis, which if activated within society may trigger individual or community “apoptosis”.