A medical anthropologist
BMJ 2006; 332 doi: https://doi.org/10.1136/sbmj.0604160 (Published 01 April 2006) Cite this as: BMJ 2006;332:0604160
- Tiago Villanueva, junior doctor1
- 1Lisbon Medical Centre, Portugal
In a couple of sentences, what is medical anthropology all about for the busy clinician?
Medical anthropology is about how people in different cultures and social groups explain the causes of ill health, the types of treatment they believe in, and to whom they turn if they do get ill. Medical anthropologists are particularly interested in the sorts of questions that people ask themselves when they fall ill. Why has it happened? Why to me? Why now? What should I do about it?
How can medical students and doctors develop an interest in medical anthropology?
By reading any of the numerous books on the subject (including my textbook), as well as browsing through journals such as Social Science and Medicine and Anthropology and Medicine, or the many websites that deal with cross cultural medical care. For more in depth …
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