Developing Professional Judgement in Health Care

Della Fish, Colin Coles Heinemann, £17.99, pp 318 ISBN 0 7506 3123 6 Many people believe that the accomplishments of modern science have tilted the balance of health care away from art towards science. Attempts have been made to redress this by defining practice in other than scientific terms and by proposing actions to promote the art of medicine. Some of the most successful attempts have been those of Schon ( The Reflective Practitioner , 1983; Educating the Reflective Practitioner , 1987). Building on Schon's work, these authors focus on the art of medicine, almost denying any role for science. They contend that professional practice can be characterised in …