Realms of Rhetoric in Health and Medicine

[First para.]: " When the editors of UTMJ introduced the journal’s new “Philosophy and Medicine” section in December 2003, they explained that its purpose was “to provide a forum for students to explore the interface between diverse schools of thought and how they contribute to the practice of modern medicine”. This move – providing space in the journal for health researchers from various backgrounds to share their knowledge and experience – reflects a shift in the landscape of health and medicine. As neurologist and professor of Medical Humanities T.J. Murray explained in 1998, “We often use the term ‘medical science’ but this refers to the scientific knowledge used by medicine. Medicine is not a science. It is a caring profession that uses science.”2 The shift to a more encompassing idea for health is consistent with changes to the health research agenda in Canada. The Canadian Institutes of Health Research (replacing the Medical Research Council) recognises that advances in biomedicine are a key factor, but not the only factor, in improving the overall health of Canadians. The social sciences and humanities can suggest ways of tracking some of the psychological and emotional – as well as socio-economic, cultural, ethical, and interpersonal – elements of health and health care."