Choice Review

The premise of this collection of essays, some previously published, is that the clinic as famously critiqued by philosopher Michel Foucault is being replaced by modes of healing that are person-centered and sensitive to spiritual values. Providing this would require more than traditional scientific training, and the author exemplifies the combination of skills that may be needed in the clinic reborn. Sulmasy is a medical doctor (New York Medical College) and a member of the Franciscan order. As a monk and medical ethicist, he writes from practical experience with patients and careful study of religious texts. The book is divided into three parts, which discuss: (1) the multiple roles of the physician as healer and the question of whether health care can be considered a spiritual practice; (2) reports of empirical research on the relevance of spirituality, including activities such as prayer, to health care contexts; and (3) treating the care of a dying patient as an occasion for intervention and for deep reflection by caregivers, loved ones, and the patient who is approaching death. The author acknowledges objections to integrating spiritual considerations into clinical contexts while advocating their relevance to humane care. ^BSumming Up: Recommended. Upper-level undergraduates through professionals/practitioners. G. R. Thursby University of Florida