Of pipes, persons, and patients. Issue 2 (1st December 2002)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Sayers, G M
• Is Part Of: Medical humanities. Volume 28:Issue 2(2002)
• Page Start: 88
• Page End: 91
• Publication Date: 2002-12-01
• Subjects: medical humanities -- persons -- patients -- René Magritte -- Michel Foucault; Medicine and the humanities -- Periodicals; Medical ethics -- Periodicals; 616.1
• DOI: 10.1136/mh.28.2.88
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1468-215X

Abstract

Abstract : Michel Foucault's analysis of Magritte's painting, Ceci N'est Pas Une Pipe, and the later work, Les Deux Mystéres, serves as a template, that is broadened to consider different representations of persons and patients. Kant's noumenal person is contrasted with phenomenal persons, and the well individual is contrasted with the patient. Patients may be considered as the subject or object of illness, and both versions are "imprisoned" within a psychological and social context that curtails freedom, threatens continuity of existence, and may question the nature of their personhood.