Patient's Role (Essay Sample)

Student Name Professor Name Course Date Patients’ Roles Introduction A crucial component of giving patients high-quality care is asking the correct questions about their pain, disease, and suffering. The writers address the significance of comprehending patients' life experiences to deliver effective and compassionate treatment in their narratives "Life in the Sick-Room" by Harriet Martineau and "Phronesis and Life in the Sick-Room" by K. W. M. Fulford (Martineau et al.). The objective facts and scientific data that are crucial for medical diagnosis and therapy some could counter can be diminished if a patient's story and subjective experience are overemphasized. This counterargument poses significant issues regarding narrative function in healthcare and the proportion of subjective experience to objective evidence. Issue voiced and language used The patient's role is explored in "Life in the Sick Room" through a collection of pieces that detail the lives of people with chronic illnesses (Martineau et al.). The language employed tends to be passionate and descriptive, focusing more on the patient's experience than medical jargon or other technical terms. The book uses several metaphors related to illness to depict the emotional and psychological difficulties associated with having a disease, such as "the shadow of death" and "the burning trial." Similar to this, the topic of the patient's part is covered in "Asking the Correct Question about Pain Narrative and Phronesis" in the context of the significance of their story in understanding and controlling pain. Even if the language is more technical and medical, it emphasizes the patient's experience. According to the author, a patient's story is a crucial part of phronesis, or practical knowledge, in pain management (Frank). Both texts portray the reader as someone eager to comprehend the patient's viewpoint and experiences, whether as a member of society or a medical expert. According to the author of "Life in the Sick Room," chronic disease is a profound and challenging experience that affects patients physically and emotionally (Martineau et al.). As such, the patient's perspective should be recognized and valued. According to the author of "Asking the Correct Question about Pain Narrative and Phronesis," the medical community should consider a patient's story when treating them because it is a crucial part of understanding and managing pain (Frank). A collection of pieces that detail the experiences of people with chronic illnesses serve as the framework for the argument in "Life in the Sick Room." The book is influenced by the social setting of the mid-19th century when medical knowledge was scarce, and a more significant emphasis was placed on personal experience and morals (Martineau et al.). In "Asking the Appropriate Question about Pain Narrative and Phronesis," the argument is framed by modern medical knowledge and practices and centers on the significance of the patient's story in pain management (Frank). Illness metaphors and narratives There are many different disease metaphors and narratives used to represent the role of the patient in "Life in the Sick Room: Essays." Martineau, for instance, emphasizes the patient's lack of agency and control by referring to them as being in a "cage" or "prison" as a result of their sickness(Martineau et al.). She also compares the patient to a "martyr" who has died because of their pain. Martineau also discusses the idea of the "sick room," a space for the patient's experience that can be both literal and symbolic. Arthur W. Frank similarly employs medical metaphors and narratives in "Asking the Appropriate Question about Pain Narrative and Phronesis" to examine the patient's position. Frank refers to the patient's experience of pain as a "story" or "narrative" that healthcare professionals must hear and comprehend (Frank). To emphasize the patient's agency and knowledge in their own experience, he also employs the metaphor of the patient as a "guide" in navigating their sickness and therapy. Ultimately, both books make use of narratives and metaphors related to disease to illustrate the difficulties and complexities of the patient's role in the medical system. How the reader is addressed In "Life in the Sick Room," the author addresses the reader in a pedagogical style while offering suggestions and instructions on taking care of oneself or a loved one while ill (Martineau et al.). The author considers the reader to be someone who is either dealing with a disease now or will in the future and who needs advice on how to handle the circumstance. The reader of "Asking the Appropriate Question about Pain Narrative and Phronesis" is a hypothetical healthcare professional or researcher interested in learning more about the connection between pain narratives and the real-world knowledge required to manage and treat pain effectively (Frank). The author assumes a certain amount of familiarity with and understanding medical terms and concepts as she speaks directly to this audience. Author’s perspective Medical practitioners should treat patients with empathy, respect, and understanding, according to the author of "Life in the Sick Room." The author argues that patients should have a vote in treatment decisions since they are active participants in their care rather than simply passive recipients of medical treatment (Martineau et al.). According to the author of "Asking the Correct Question about Pain Narrative and Phronesis," it is essential for medical professionals to comprehend the patient's narrative and pain experiences to deliver quality care (Frank). The author contends that the patient's opinion should be cherished and considered while making medical decisions rather than being discounted or disregarded. The author's argument structure and how it is shaped by social context In "Life in the sick Room," Martineau and Follen argue that being ill can help the patient by presenting chances for learning, moral and spiritual growth, and self-awareness (Martineau et al.). Additionally, they promote the use of complementary and alternative therapies and place a strong emphasis on the value of patient participation in their care. Patients are urged to take an active role in their treatment. In "Asking the Right Question about Pain Narrative and Phronesis," Frank argues that patient pain narratives are an essential part of their experience and should be taken into consideration when providing medical care. He contends that physicians could create a more sympathetic and successful strategy for pain management if they had a more comprehensive grasp of patients' pain narratives (Frank). The social climate of their era influenced both writings in different ways. Midway through the 19th century, when attitudes about alternative medicine began to change, and medical education was only starting to become more standardized, the novel "Life in the Sick-Room" was published. This shifting viewpoint is reflected in the authors' support of alternative medicines. In the late 20th century, when "Asking the Correct Question about Pain Narrative and Phronesis" was published, there was a rising understanding of the value of patient-centered care and the demand for a more holistic approach to medicine (Frank). This larger pattern can be noticed in Frank's argument. Text contradiction Martineau stresses the value of patients taking charge of their care and participating actively in their recovery in "Life in the Sick Room." However, she also says that patients ought to be submissive to their doctors' authority and obey them. This inconsistency highlights the conflict between conventional medical beliefs and the newly popular notion of patient empowerment (Martineau et al.). Frank examines the significance of hearing patient narratives and taking their experiences into account when making medical decisions in "Asking the Correct Question about Pain Narrative and Phronesis." However, he acknowledges some drawbacks to this strategy, such as difficulty balancing patients' subjective perceptions with factual medical information. This inconsistency emphasizes the continual challenge of balancing patient-centered treatment and evidence-based medicine. Disciplines that relate to the language used to describe the role of patients The vocabulary employed to explain the patient's involvement in "Life in the Sick Room: Essays" is medical and statistical. Clinically speaking, the author gives little thought to the patient's unique experience or feelings relating to the patient's symptoms, prognosis, and treatment (Martineau et al.). The author assumes a feminine perspective and addresses female readers; therefore, there is also a gendered quality to the language utilized. The language employed to describe the patient's role in "Asking the proper inquiry about pain narrative and phronesis" is more artistic and poetic (Frank). The author talks about how a patient experiences pain and how crucial narrative is to comprehending and managing it. Instead of emphasizing facts and data, the language focuses more on feelings and subjective experiences. Martineau and Follen use terminology in "Life in the Sick Room" that hints at a belief in the significance of the patient's role in their care as well as the demand for compassion and understanding from medical professionals (Martineau et al.). They emphasize the disease's emotional and psychological costs by describing the patient's experience in homey and poetic language. They frequently characterize the patient's predicament using metaphors of captivity and confinement, implying a need for freedom and action. Frank examines the fu...