Narrative Medicine Theory and Practice: the Double Helix Model

Area of Science:

• Medical Humanities
• Narrative Medicine
• Critical Medical Humanities

Background:

• The medical humanities emerged as a distinct field, necessitating a theoretical framework.
• The narrative medicine movement provided this framework, with recent developments focusing on critical medical humanities.
• Critical medical humanities emphasize the integration of sciences and humanities.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop an alternative to current narrative medicine approaches.
• To propose a new interpretive heuristic, the Double Helix Model.
• To critically engage with existing methodologies, such as the Columbia School's close reading approach.

Main Methods:

• Building upon Helene Scott-Fordsmand's work on reversing the medical humanities.
• Introducing the Double Helix Model as a novel interpretive heuristic.
• Placing the Double Helix Model in critical dialogue with the Columbia School's approach.

Main Results:

• The proposed Double Helix Model offers a new conceptual frame for critical narrative medicine.
• This framework facilitates a dialogue between the sciences and humanities within medical contexts.
• The model has the potential to reorient the roles of both disciplines.

Conclusions:

• Critical narrative medicine, utilizing the Double Helix Model, can empower clinicians.
• This empowerment enables clinicians to contribute to redefining the relationship between sciences and humanities.
• The reorientation benefits healthcare providers, academic scholars, and patients alike.