Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jul 15, 2026

Using Visual and Narrative Methods to Achieve Fair Process in Clinical Care
14:32

Using Visual and Narrative Methods to Achieve Fair Process in Clinical Care

Published on: February 16, 2011

The Doctor by Luke Fildes: an icon in context

Y Michael Barilan1

  • 1Meir Hospital and the Department of Behavioral Sciences, Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel. bentovia@shani.net

The Journal of Medical Humanities
|April 3, 2007
PubMed

Insights

Sir Luke Fildes' painting "The Doctor" reveals core medical conflicts. It highlights tensions between efficiency and personal care, market control, and doctor specialism versus general practice.

Area of Science:

  • Medical Humanities
  • Art History
  • Sociology of Medicine

Background:

  • Analysis of Sir Luke Fildes' iconic painting, "The Doctor."
  • Exploration of the painting as a representation of idealized doctoring.
  • Examination of public and professional expectations influencing medical practice.

Discussion:

  • The painting illustrates the conflict between statistical efficiency (morbidity/mortality rates) and personalized patient care.
  • It highlights the tension between doctor-controlled healthcare markets and patient-centered healthcare models.
  • The artwork also depicts the divide between high-earning consultants and general practitioners (GPs).

Key Insights:

  • "The Doctor" serves as a visual metaphor for enduring conflicts in medical practice.
  • Art provides a unique lens to understand the socio-cultural dimensions of medicine.
  • The painting reflects societal views on the doctor-patient relationship and healthcare system structures.

Outlook:

  • Further analysis of art in medicine can illuminate evolving healthcare dynamics.
  • Understanding these historical conflicts can inform contemporary medical ethics and policy.
  • Continued examination of the intersection between art, public perception, and medical practice is valuable.

More Related Videos

Diaphragmatic Ultrasound in Adults: Image Acquisition and Interpretation05:51

Diaphragmatic Ultrasound in Adults: Image Acquisition and Interpretation

Published on: January 31, 2025

Iris Fixation via External Pentagram Suturing05:22

Iris Fixation via External Pentagram Suturing

Published on: May 5, 2022

Related Concept Videos

The Professional Nurse01:22

The Professional Nurse

Professional nurses are not limited to bedside care and are taking roles of greater responsibility. A nurse should have a knowledge-based practice, including personal, theoretical, procedural, cultural, and reflexive knowledge. Additionally, nurses must be competent in cognitive, technical, interpersonal, and ethical/legal skills. Some of the best attributes of successful nurses include the following:
Communication skills: These are critical characteristics, especially speaking and listening.
Dimensions of Health and Illness01:21

Dimensions of Health and Illness

The factors influencing the health-illness continuum can be internal or external and may or may not be under conscious control. They are related to the following eight human dimensions, and each dimension is interrelated to one other.
Concepts of Health and Illness01:29

Concepts of Health and Illness

Health is a condition of the body, mind, and spirit where an individual remains free from illness. Similarly, wellness is an active state, including living a lifestyle that promotes physical, mental, and emotional health. Physical health is critical for the overall well-being and can be affected by lifestyle, activity level, diet, and behavior. The highest attainable standard of health is a fundamental and universal human right. Consider Lisa, a fifteen-year-old born with congenital...
Patient-centered Care01:13

Patient-centered Care

Patient-centered care involves delivering care beyond inpatient hospitalization. Reflective practice can enhance a patient-centered approach. Reflective practice is a process of reasoning that considers all aspects of the present situation, including practicalities, learning from personal practice, and consideration of patient needs. Patients appreciate care decisions made while considering their input. Involving the patient in their care provides the patient with a sense of contribution rather...
Healing II: Complications01:24

Healing II: Complications

Complications during healing arise when tissue repair is altered by local or systemic factors. These changes involve abnormal collagen deposition, altered biomechanics, and reduced vascular supply, impairing restoration of normal structure and function.Loss of FunctionScar tissue differs significantly from the original tissue it replaces. In the skin, fibrosis lacks adnexal structures such as hair follicles, sebaceous glands, and sweat glands. Their absence reduces tactile sensitivity, impairs...
Healing I: Introduction01:11

Healing I: Introduction

Healing is the physiological process by which the body restores the integrity and function of damaged tissues following injury. It involves a coordinated interplay of cellular proliferation, extracellular matrix remodeling, and growth factor signaling. The extent and nature of the tissue damage determine whether healing occurs by resolution, regeneration, or replacement.ResolutionResolution represents the most complete form of healing, occurring when the injury is minimal and tissue...