Antoine Sénanque: When the pen reveals the secrets of the stethoscope

This article investigates the narrative work of neurologist and novelist Antoine Sénanque by situating it at the intersection of medical practice, literary fiction, and social justice. It explores how his novels-Blouse, La Grande Garde, and Guérir quand c'est. impossible-offer a critical perspective on the emotional, ethical, and institutional challenges embedded in contemporary healthcare systems.

The study employs a qualitative approach combining literary analysis with sociological and narrative medicine frameworks. It draws on the theories of Charon, Fainzang, Pierron, and Bonhomme to examine how Sénanque's fiction articulates the hidden dimensions of the doctor-patient relationship, symbolic violence, and emotional labor in clinical settings.

Findings reveal that Sénanque's narratives expose systemic forms of injustice that are normalized through professional detachment, silencing of emotional expression, and the erasure of patient voices. His fiction critiques institutional expectations that disqualify vulnerability and highlights the ethical significance of narrative presence. By portraying relational breakdowns and moral fatigue, the novels illuminate the symbolic asymmetries that shape the experience of care, particularly for marginalized actors-junior doctors, dying patients, and those excluded from curative logic.

Sénanque's literary corpus functions as a site of narrative resistance and ethical reflection. It underscores the necessity of restoring narrative reciprocity and emotional legitimacy within healthcare. His work suggests that justice in medicine requires not only structural reform but also a cultural shift toward presence, humility, and shared storytelling.