THE PHILOSOPHICAL DISEASES OF MEDICINE AND THEIR CURE, 2004. Author: JOSEF SEIFERT, p. xvii-xviii
“In other words, besides biological and experimental knowledge pertaining to medical science and underlying medical care of all sorts, and besides the diagnostic and practical arts and manifold techniques required for the carrying out of medical actions, the theoretical and practical aspects of medicine depend essentially and constitutively on an understanding of the human person and of values and goals that have crucial ethical implications and inform the entire activity and essence of medicine. At least a pre-philosophical understanding of, and a commitment to, these ends and goals of medicine is not some type of ‘luxury’ for physicians graced with a philosophical mind-set, but is indispensable for any physician and nurse in order to actually be a physician or nurse, instead of turning into a mere medically trained technician or even criminal. The same is true for all other health professionals.”