The Physician

Abstract

In Western culture, human medicine has evolved as a healing profession, and as such, it is oriented toward curing sick people, caring for sick people, preventing maladies, and promoting health. This orientation is primarily centered around the healing relationship healing relationship, a relationship that is usually thought of as a dyadic structure, comprising the physician and the patient. Venerable terms such as “the physician-patient relationshipphysician-patient relationship ” and “the doctor-patient interactiondoctor-patient interaction ” reflect this view.