Patrick Mcardle

Relational Health Care: a Practical Theology of Personhood Patrick Mcardle

Health Care is a relational activity but in thecontemporary setting this relational dimension oftentakes second place to technological possibilities, professional expertise and economics. In this contextthe vulnerable person at the heart of health care maybe lost. This book brings theology and health careinto dialogue to advance the conversation betweenthese two disciplines that serve persons at theirmost vulnerable points. Drawing on the work of JohnMacmurray and Emmanuel Levinas, 'Relational HealthCare' provides a conceptual framework based onunderstanding persons in relational terms. A numberof controversial cases are investigated todemonstrate the need for relational health care. Re-conceiving the human person in this way enablesnew insights to be brought to bear on the clinicalencounter in a manner that genuinely respects allpersons involved: patients, families, friends andstaff. This practical theology engages social, ethical and aesthetic dimensions of health care andaffirms that it is through illness, disease anddebility that the person is unveiled as relational.'Relational Health Care' is for health careprofessionals, philosophers and theologians.