Trusting doctors : the decline of moral authority in American medicine

For more than a century, the American medical profession insisted that doctors be rigorously trained in medical science and dedicated to professional ethics. Patients revered their doctors as representatives of a sacred vocation. Do we still trust doctors with the same conviction? In __Trusting Doctors__, Jonathan Imber attributes the development of patients' faith in doctors to the inspiration and influence of Protestant and Catholic clergymen during the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. He explains that as the influence of clergymen waned, and as reliance on medical technology increased, patients' trust in doctors steadily declined. __Trusting Doctors__ discusses the emphasis that Protestant clergymen placed on the physician's vocation; the focus that Catholic moralists put on specific dilemmas faced in daily medical practice; and the loss of unchallenged authority experienced by doctors after World War II, when practitioners became valued for their technical competence rather than their personal integrity. Imber shows how the clergy gradually lost their impact in defining the physician's moral character, and how vocal critics of medicine contributed to a decline in patient confidence. The author argues that as modern medicine becomes defined by specialization, rapid medical advance, profit-driven industry, and ever more anxious patients, the future for a renewed trust in doctors will be confronted by even greater challenges. __Trusting Doctors__ provides valuable insights into the religious underpinnings of the doctor-patient relationship and raises critical questions about the ultimate place of the medical profession in American life and culture. Discusses The Emphasis That Protestant Clergymen Placed On The Physician's Vocation; The Focus That Catholic Moralists Put On Specific Dilemmas Faced In Daily Medical Practice; And The Loss Of Unchallenged Authority Experienced By Doctors After World War Ii, When Practitioners Became Valued For Their Technical Competence Rather Than Their Personal Integrity. Imber Shows How The Clergy Gradually Lost Their Impact In Defining The Physician's Moral Character, And How Vocal Critics Of Medicine Contributed To A Decline In Patient Confidence. The Author Argues That As Modern Medicine Becomes Defined By Specialization, Rapid Medical Advance, Profit-driven Industry, And Ever More Anxious Patients, The Future For A Renewed Trust In Doctors Will Be Confronted By Even Greater Challenges. Preface: A Sociological Perspective -- Pt. 1. Religious Foundations Of Trust In Medicine -- 1. Protestantism, Piety, And Professionalism -- 2. The Influence Of Catholic Perspectives -- 3. The Scientific Challenge To Faith -- 4. Public Health, Public Trust, And The Professionalization Of Medicine -- Pt. 2. Beyond The Golden Age Of Trust In Medicine -- 5. The Growth Of Popular Distrust In Medicine -- 6. The Evolution Of Bioethics -- 7. Anxiety In The Age Of Epidemiology -- 8. Trust And Mortality -- App. 1. Extant Addresses, Sermons, And Eulogies By Clergymen -- App. 2. Philadelphia Medical Sermons -- App. 3. Long Island College Hospital Commencements, 1860-1899. Jonathan B. Imber. Includes Bibliographical References (p. 213-264) And Index. Content: Cover CONTENTS PREFACE: A Sociological Perspective INTRODUCTION PART ONE: Religious Foundations of Trust in Medicine 1 Protestantism, Piety, and Professionalism 2 The Influence of Catholic Perspectives 3 The Scientific Challenge to Faith 4 Public Health, Public Trust, and the Professionalization of Medicine PART TWO: Beyond the Golden Age of Trust in Medicine 5 The Growth of Popular Distrust in Medicine 6 The Evolution of Bioethics 7 Anxiety in the Age of Epidemiology 8 Trust and Mortality ACKNOWLEDGMENTS APPENDIX 1: Extant Addresses, Sermons, and Eulogies by Clergymen. Attributes the development of patients' faith in doctors to the inspiration and influence of Protestant and Catholic clergymen during the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. This book explains that as the influence of clergymen waned, and as reliance on medical technology increased, patients' trust in doctors steadily declined.