The responsibilities of personhood in the medical setting

Medicine has often been viewed as both an art and a science. However, a unified philosophy to encompass these two elements, including their influence on various aspects of the practice of medicine, has yet to be proposed. This work is presented as a possible remedy for that lack. Gabriel Marcel, a French existentialist, sees the entire world as an interplay of mystery and objectivity, ultimately wed in the unique experience of my body. Mystery and objectivity are first presented in a number of relationships which I enjoy beyond myself, namely my relationship with the world and with other persons. Marcel argues that science cannot fundamentally change nature and in fact, looking to science as the sole answers to questions actually distorts our view of nature. Mystery is also evident in the deeply personal relationships which I share with another person, which Marcel calls the Thou relation. Ultimately mystery, as experienced in the realm of Being, is expressed in my relationship to my body, in that I experience my body both as a possession, as an instrument which I can use, and as my being, as an expression of who I am and my experience of life.

Medicine is concerned both with broad issues of science, interpersonal relationships and the body which are presented here, as well as more specific issues such as autonomy, death and hope which Marcel also addresses. Given this common ground, I proceed to apply Marcel's thought to the issues of holistic medicine, informed consent and organ transplants. Holistic medicine often comes up short in that practitioners are merely replacing the scientifically based treatment with their own "holistic" treatment with no in-depth change of philosophy. With respect to informed consent, the existence of mystery in one's lived experience and the physician-patient relationship will require a change in the understanding of the decision making process, though the outward mechanics of informing the patient will remain. Finally, one's not being solely in an ownership relationship with one's body requires that restrictions be placed on the sale of organs for transplant. There are further applications which can be made. These were chosen to indicate the utility of the philosophy of Gabriel Marcel in understanding the practice of medicine.