Page |143 example, physicians may agree that the traditions have much to say, but about experience of depression can be treated which medical science remains silent. leg samt ely by antidepressant .o. Caring for the patient as person medications, referral to a psychiatrist, or referral to a counselor whose practice is So far I have suggested that rooted in a specific religious tradition. religions provide a vision that animates Yet our research suggests that the care of the sick and a moral framework religious characteristics of physicians that guides the application of medical strongly influence which of these technology. Religions make another options they would recommend in a contribution by fostering practices that given case’. nurture the human capacity to care for . . patients as persons rather than as mere Controversies over a particular er : objects. medical intervention often represent deeper unspoken disagreements that, Patients commonly complain that unfortunately, science cannot settle. For their physicians treat them as mere example, controversies over the use of objects or specimens rather than stimulants to manage childhood behavior appreciating and attending to them as disorders, or the medicalization of social unique persons. This problem has always anxiety, seem to reflect disagreements plagued the profession. To learn how to about more basic questions: What brings heal, the novice physician must learn of human happiness? Which moods and patients as representing abstract general behaviors should be considered normal types and classes. She must learn about parts of human experience and which coronary artery disease and hematuria should be considered abnormal? What before she can begin to interpret Mrs. sorts of suffering should we try to Smith’s chest discomfort and Mr. alleviate? What leads to disordered Jones’s red urine. These abstractions behaviors? What resources (social, allow knowledge of when and how psychological, spiritual or otherwise)