Physician, heal thyself: Desire and impairment in physicians' Writings

Traditionally medicine and literature have lain on opposite ends of the spectrum, but for some physicians, writing is complementary to medicine. I examine selected works of physician-writers that express the difficulties and triumphs of their journeys through their medical career. Through narratives we can learn not only about the world of medicine, but also about the reasons physicians act and respond as they do. \r\n According to Jacques Lacan, desire is the quality of more that leaves us lacking and wanting something else. This quality of more is what I will explore in physicians’ writings. Lacanian desire is one key to the prevalence of the number of impaired physicians. \r\n This work can be a catalyst for change within the medical profession as instructors see and understand the difficulties that lie ahead for their students. Preventive and treatment plans for impaired physicians may include identifying desire as opposed to simply treating behaviors. \r\n

Name thesis:degree_name

Master ofArts

Level thesis:degree_level

Master

Grantor

The University of Texas Medical Branch

Year dc:date.issued

2006

Author dc:creator

• Marissa Anne Gostanian

Advisor dc:contributor.advisor

• Anne Hudson Jones, Ph.D.

Committee members dc:contributor.committeemember

• Ronald A. Carson, Ph.D.
• Michael O'Boyle, M.D., Ph.D.

• physician experience
• literature and medicine
• edical Education
• addiction

Statement dc:rights

• Copyright © is held by the author. Presentation of this material on the TDL web site by The University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston was made possible under a limited license grant from the author who has retained all copyrights in the works.

Language dc:language.iso

eng

Dc Identifier Other

etd-03312006-120517

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:utmb-ir.tdl.org:2152.3/80