Interdisciplinarité et clinique du soin

Interdisciplinarity is the foundation of the clinical practices constituting palliative care. This approach arose through changing attitudes which developed in modern French society with an acceleration of individualization and individualism. New interrogations concerning pain, suffering, and euthanasia, following the social uprisings in May 1968, occurred in parallel with greater freedom of speech. Inter-communication became a keystone to hospital life. At the same time, the technical advances of medicine created a multitude of tasks performed by expert technicians in combination with an economical rationale of risk dehumanizing healthcare. Applying the clinical viewpoint to palliative care enables a better understanding of the objectives to be defended and transmitted in medical curriculums. Interdisciplinarity is not limited to the juxtaposition of objectivizing expertise. It also introduces a notion of inter-subjectivity which recognizes the subjective nature of the sick person as well as all members of the heathcare team. The goal is to construct true interdisciplinary cooperation, despite the inevitable conflicts. While providing support for the sick person, an interdisciplinary exchange of objective information and subjective thoughts constitutes one of the best ways of maintaining the human side of healthcare.