The Lost Art of Healing: Practicing Compassion in Medicine [Paperback]

Bernard Lown (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: February 2, 1999

The real crisis in medicine today is not about economics, insurance, or managed care--it's about the loss of the fundamental human relationship between doctor and patient. In this wise and passionate book, one of our most eminent physicians reacquaints us with a classic notion often overlooked in modern medicine: health care with a human face, in which the time-honored art of healing guides doctors in their approach to patient care and their use of medical technology.

Drawing on four decades of practice as a cardiologist and a vast knowledge of literature and medical history, Dr. Lown probes the heart and soul of the doctor-patient relationship. Insightful and accessible to all, The Lost Art of Healing describes how true healers use sympathetic listening and touch to hone their diagnostic skills, how language affects the perception of illness, how doctors and patients can cultivate a relationship of trust, and how patients can obtain the most complete and beneficial care through a combination of healing techniques and conventional practices.

As Dr. Lown explains, the art of healing does not mean abandoning the spectacular advances of modern science, but rather incorporating them into a sensitive, humane, enlightened approach to medical care. With its urgent message and poignant, fascinating vignettes, The Lost Art of Healing is a book of vital, universal importance.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Too many well-trained, well-credentialed doctors fail to take a careful patient history, indulge in rampant overuse of technology and excessively prescribe drugs that result in death or disability, charges Lown, a cardiologist and professor emeritus at Harvard Medical School. In these gracefully written essays, full of interesting vignettes and case studies drawn from his 45 years of practice, he urges doctors to practice attentive listening, to desist from using intimidating language and to pay attention to the emotional stresses in patients' lives. Keeping an open mind toward alternative medicine, Lown describes his partially successful treatment in China with acupuncture for his severe back pain. He also looks at the challenges of caring for the elderly and shares helpful insights on death and dying. His stimulating inquiry is sound medicine for doctors and patients alike.
Copyright 1996 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

From Library Journal

Despite huge technological advancements, today's medicine is in a state of crisis, claims Lown (professor emeritus in cardiology at Harvard and cofounder of Physicians Against Nuclear War). Emphasizing that nothing can replace listening and careful history taking, Lown laments that doctors have now substituted technology for taking time with the patient, shifting their medical focus from healing the patient to curing the disease. In a teaching style reminiscent of Sir William Osler, Lown extracts from his 50 years of medical practice case histories and examples of the clinical wisdom that enable a doctor to comprehend essential medical problems. Despite his Oslerian call to return today's depersonalized medicine to the art of doctoring, he evinces little optimism that his wisdom will be heeded in this age of Medicare and managed care. Recommended for all medical collections.?James Swanton, Harlem Hospital Lib., New York
Copyright 1996 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 368 pages
• Publisher: Ballantine Books (February 2, 1999)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0345425979
• ISBN-13: 978-0345425973
• Product Dimensions: 5.5 x 0.8 x 8.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 11.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (15 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #84,466 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #30 in Books > Medical Books > Medicine > Doctor-Patient Relations

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

20 of 20 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Helping physicians recapture their focus, July 25, 2001

By 

Gary Margolias (Atlanta, GA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Lost Art of Healing: Practicing Compassion in Medicine (Paperback)

I bought a copy for myself, and now I am trying to give a copy to everybody I know who is involved in patient care. Most of us went into the medical field with noble aspirations to take care of others and in doing so, to grow ourselves as human beings. The process of going through a medical education debases in many respects our initial aspirations. I read this book and found myself recentered. Dr. Lown approaches medicine as an opportunity to glean from the people for whom he cares. The book is filled with anecdotes gathered from decades of doctoring. The stories lead the reader along the same journey that the author has taken in coming to a sense of himself as a healer. The characters whom have filled his life are interesting and the story of Dr. Lown's personal journey from medical student, to researcher to teacher and master clinician, is fascinating. I highly recommend this book. It has changed the way that I approach my work and given me a zest for opportunities to grow in this profession.

15 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Outstanding medical humanism, July 3, 2000

By 

Thomas H. Bracken (Onamia, MN USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Lost Art of Healing: Practicing Compassion in Medicine (Paperback)

This is an incredible book. Written by the cardiologist who helped bring us DC cardioversion, and lidocaine for arrhythmias, it surprisingly focuses on the human aspects of medicine.

He makes several critical points: the most important task for us as physicians is to first listen to our patients. He encourages us to make our diagnoses and prognoses on the basis of careful history taking and examination, rather than by laboratory testing. He also exhorts us to take the responsibility of appropriately reassuring and encouraging our patients, rather than just always hedging our bets to cover our malpractice worries.

The book is very well written and edited, and contains dozens of fascinating doctor/patient vignettes. He explores the boundaries of the patient/doctor relationship, and is well aware of the times it leads him astray.

He is not afraid to interject his personal religious philosophy (as an agnostic from a Jewish background) but respects those with other opinions.

This text contains far more valuable information for physicians than any biochemistry or histology text. Hopefully wise Deans will make it required reading for their medical school

Thomas H. Bracken MD Onamia MN

15 of 16 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars a reader from japan age 23, December 19, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: The Lost Art of Healing (Hardcover)

I happen to know this book at library. At that time I read this in Japanese, but I was realy moved what the aouther says. Now I am learning about oriental medicine and I realized the importance about talking and thinking with paitents. Since my knoweledge about hearts is very poor, I cannnot understand medical things. But this book will be my bible, so I will try to read also in English. I just want to say thank you to the aouthor and let he know thatthere are many acupuncturists who want to act to the patients like you. Thank you very much.