Control and Liminality

     “The term ‘humanities’ has been defined as ‘the contemplation of truths which cannot be verified, and the understanding of values which cannot be measured.’ Both concepts are alien to the biomedical model of education. Yet many educators consider medical humanities as a vital part of the education of health science practitioners."

        Balis SA, Rule JT. Humanities in dental education: a focus on understanding the child. J Dent Educ 1999; 63(9): 709-15.

     For 'liminality' see: http://healthyhealers.blogspot.ca/2012/03/to-burnout-or-engage.html 

     It's unfortunate then that the medical humanities "receive more than their fair share of students' critiques in terms of both quantity and virulence."
       Shapiro J et al. Medical humanities and their discontents: definitions, critiques, and implications. Acad Med 2009; 84(2):192-8.

     Health care is where our illusions of control regularly collide with existential reality. Palliative care docs are constantly on the front lines of this meeting place, hence the wisdom of giants in the field like Balfour Mount:

Part 1 of 3: Making Healing Connections - Palliative Care

Part 2 of 3: Living as if Everything is a Miracle - Palliative Care

Part 3 of 3: Death Anxiety and Finding a Healing Path - Palliative Care