Conceptual understanding of human being to redefine rehabilitation medicine

Abstract

What is rehabilitation medicine? What is its aims and goals? These fundamental questions were rarely asked in rehabilitation medicine, although it has been practiced every day for decades. Since the practice of rehabilitation medicine affects physical, mental, and social aspect of patient at the same time, an interdisciplinary research of human being is required to understand what practitioners of rehabilitation medicine really do and should do. As a preliminary result of such research, this article focuses on philosophical understandings of human being, functioning, and disability with regard to ICF and also endeavor to establish a theoretical framework for rehabilitation medicine. Pairs of concepts defining human being, living, life in general, and their relationships with rehabilitation medicine are discussed on the basis of French philosophy of medicine from the 18th century to the present, in particular that of Pierre-Jean-Georges Cabanis (1757–1808) and Georges Canguilhem (1904–1995). From the theoretical consideration of French philosophy of medicine and rehabilitation medicine, an analogical framework between philosophical concepts and ICF is found. Furthermore, new aims and goals of rehabilitation medicine can be established under the name of ‘REHAB SMART’ (Sustaining Movement And Restorative Thinking) as shown in the following. According to the chart, living human being consists of not only functioning, but also disability. Disability should thus be understood as diversity and not as criteria of discrimination. Eventually, rehabilitation medicine should aim to recover self-identity of patient by restoring patient's neural and social network. In order to ensure more successful practice of rehabilitation medicine, it's basic concepts, underlying aims and goals should be examined with the help of philosophical understandings of patient as a holistic human being. Such broad and fundamental considerations will enforce the integrity of theory and practice in rehabilitation medicine.