In this book the author explores the shifting philosophical boundaries of modern medical
knowledge and practice occasioned by the crisis of quality-of-care, especially in terms of the
various humanistic adjustments to the biomedical model. To that end he examines the
metaphysical, epistemological, and ethical boundaries of these medical models. He begins
with their metaphysics, analyzing the metaphysical positions and presuppositions and
ontological commitments upon which medical knowledge and practice is founded. Next, he …

Abstract The review of James Marcum's book starts with the explanation of the introductory
character of the book in the field of philosophy of medicine. Than, the quality-of-care crisis is
presented as the central motivation of the book. The clash between prevalent biomedical
model in medicine and desirable humanistic model is explored through the presentation of
all three parts of the book. The first part deals with metaphysical boundaries of biomedical
and humanistic models. The second part is concerned with the epistemology of medicine …