Medicine in culture and society

Modern medicine - including doctors, healthcare professionals, patients and relatives, and the more abstract phenomena such as diagnoses, illness experiences, health concepts and hierarchies - is part of a long history, a certain language and a broad cultural and societal context. This course examines medicine, both as science and practice, in relation to these contexts. Via contemporary and historical examples, and based on, for example, fiction, autobiographies, film and museum visits, the course concretizes medicine's place in our lives and in relation to the state and society. Central perspectives and concepts are drawn from the interdisciplinary field of medical humanities and social sciences. At seminars and in written exercises, it is discussed how changing perceptions and norms concerning health and illness, the relationship between patients and representatives of medical professions, normal and deviant, populations and individuals affect today's healthcare. Great importance is placed on discussing patients' and relatives' experiences of illness, care and medicine and on reflecting on one's own professional role.

This course is an elective course within medical education, nursing education, physiotherapy education, pharmacy education and prescription education.