The Picture of Health: Medical Ethics and the Movies

The Picture of Health: Medical Ethics and the Movies

Film and literature have long been mined for interesting examples and case studies in order to teach biomedical ethics to students. This volume presents a collection of about 80 very brief, accessible essays written by international experts from medicine, social sciences, and the humanities, all of whom have experience using film in their teaching of medical ethics. Each essay focuses on a single scene and the ethical issues it raises, and the volume editors have provided strict guidelines for what each essay must do, while also allowing for some creative freedom. While some of the films are obvious candidates with medical themes -- "Million Dollar Baby", "The Diving Bell and the Butterfly" -- some are novel choices, such as "Pan's Labyrinth" or "As Good as it Gets". The book will contain several general introductory chapters to major sections, and a complete filmography and cross-index at the end of the book where readers can look up individual films or ethical issues. "...this volume would be a valuable reference for anyone teaching or presenting a topic that might include an issue in medical ethics. Summing up: highly recommended. Lower-division undergraduates and above." -- C.D. Kay, Wofford College, CHOICE "The Picture of Health: Medical Ethics and the Movies is an over-500-page masterpiece...In summary, I could not be more enthusiastic about this volume. Any professional interested in medical ethics will find a current and comprehensive review of the entire field in the essays. And anyone teaching an ethics class to caregivers will find this volume to be a wonderful core text for use in the classroom." -- John Edward Ruark, MD, FACP, PsychCRITIQUES "This book is explicitly intended for teaching bioethics. It will be most useful for those just embarking on teaching medical students and physicians in training." -- Susan E. Lederer, Bulletin of the History of Medicine Narrative film can be a useful way of looking at bioethical scenarios. This volume presents a collection of brief, accessible essays written by international experts from medicine, social sciences, and the humanities, all of whom have experience using film in their teaching of bioethics. Movies provide glimpses of situations that are easily understood and personalized by viewers. Using movies to teach medical ethics helps instructors relate to their audience in order to cover particular teaching points that may seem pertinent on the day of the lecture. There are many movies and scenes to choose from. This book provides a thorough overview of medical ethics, and provides detailed descriptions of movie scenes and the specific teaching points that can be made before, during or after projection of a particular film sequence. The authors of the more than 70 chapters are all nationally recognized experts. Reading these essays will be a rewarding and informative experience for those interested in medical ethics in general, and for anyone interested in film-making. Using film to teach medical ethics allows viewers to related with actors, plots and context. Opinions and positions can be justified based on what actually happens in the fictional narrative as well as personal experience. Movies can thus be used to promote enthusiasm for learning, highlight themes, enhance reflection, animate discussions,and illustrate specific teaching points on clinical topics, health care policy, social issues, cultural difference, historic perspectives, and science. This is cinemeducation at its best, and if you are not already using film in your curriculum, we are confident you will after reading this book! This book includes: Short scene descriptions and time-codes - Detailed analysis and an engaging point-by-point review of medical ethics issues - Overviews of movies of particular interest to medical ethicists - Material for the medical professional but also for anyone interested in film and film-making Henri Colt MD is Professor of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine at the University of California, Irvine. He is an internationally recognized expert and opinion leader in the development and dissemination of novel technologies for lung cancer diagnosis and interventional palliative procedures. During his career, he has worked or lectured in more than fifty countries, frequently discussing ethics and humanities issues in the context of medical practice, social injustice, humanitarian aid, and education. He has held numerous leadership positions in international and national societies, has more than 200 publications in various fields, and has authored or coauthored several books, book chapters, review articles, and commentaries. The recipient of honorary society memberships and numerous national and international awards from Japan, South America, Australia, and the United States, Dr. Colt has a long experience incorporating film and other media into lectures pertaining to medical ethics cultural diversity, religion pulmonary medicine, and end-of-life