Review by Choice Review
Foss's premise is that current biomedical science as practiced (Cartesian medicine) is "mindless"; i.e., because of its historical, evolutionary roots, it allows no consideration that the "patient can modulate the environment in which disease grows." For Foss and his postmodern cohorts, "psychosocial experiences" are as "real" as biological ones, so that the patient "should be able to actively participate in the healing process by refocusing [his or her] consciousness." He wants this postmodern (theory based) model of informational medicine to be placed on an equal, synergistic level with traditional biomedical science (evidence based). He strongly hints that the government should spend more research dollars on biopsychosociocultural studies. Of note is that early in the 1980s traditional medical science was described as already dying (Toulmin) and being replaced by a medical mind-body awareness, but some 20 years later this postmodern approach still has not produced a single, significant breakthrough. It is difficult to recommend this work on merit, of any kind, except as a window for those who might want to see what postmodern infomedicine is all about; modern medicine is not even near death yet. General readers; upper-division undergraduates through professionals. R. S. Kowalczyk formerly, Ferris State University
Copyright American Library Association, used with permission.
Review by Choice Review
