'Medecine de la Personne' and Dr Paul Tournier

Abstract

Dr Paul Tournier of Switzerland is one of the pioneers of Whole Person Medicine, and organised his first conference on La medecine de la personne in 7947. The author attended one of these conferences in Finland recently, and he gives some insights into what this is all about. It is an attitude towards patients born of the realisation of the great worth of persons as unique beings with spiritual as well as physical and psychological dimensions. It attempts to see the individual as a whole within his particular 'frame work' and depends for its efficacy on establishing a genuine warm personal relationship with the patient. The relationship is itself of therapeutic value. In this article, some limits and hindrances to such relationships are identified, as well as factors which promote them.