Current trend of American medical education-the place ofalternative medicine

摘要

In recent years due to the growth of biotechnology, advancement inscientific knowledge, economic, social and international challenges, thepractice of medicine is at a turning point. More and more physicians areplaying a major role in both “care” and “cure”.To work effectively in this environment, medical students must becarefully trained, not only to provide medical treatment, but to providecompassionate support and comfort to their patients. Every physicianmust recognize that their patients are highly knowledgeable and want tobe the partners in their care rather than passively follow the orders.The future patients will demand from their physicians not only thoroughknowledge in clinical medicine but knowledge in basic science likemolecular biology and immunology to other issues such as public healthand human rights. Medical students must learn the economic issues ofmedical practice, basic laws and policies regarding the health caresystem. They will not only prescribe medicine, but will discuss aboutnutrition, family and social welfare, provide counselling as needed andadopt any other means to support their patients including stress reliefthrough relaxation techniques. Future patients must be treated as atotal person. To meet these needs, the medical schools must train theirstudents to be receptive to all new knowledge, both traditional andnontraditional