Anatomy of life and well-being: A framework for the contributions of phenomenology and complexity theory

This paper proposes an anatomy of the phenomena of life and of correlate qualitative modes of empirical research, theory, and professional practice concerned with health and well-being. I explicate the qualitative dynamic operative at every level of order, from the biological realm of cells and organisms, through distinctively human lifeworld experiences and practices, to communities of organisms in ecosystems and bio-cultural regions. This paper clarifies the unity of the dimensions of life and aligns these with demonstrated and emerging contributions of hermeneutical phenomenology and current complexity–autopoietic theory (including disciplinary and professional interpretations of empirical findings). The intent is begin to delineate a common framework upon which we could build—facilitating better understanding of the distinctive contributions of each specialization as well as the integration of diverse qualitative approaches with each other (and with quantitative complements)

Ethical Counselling for a Patient-Centred Approach in the Context of Psychosomatic Medicine

There is an increasing demand for help whenever ethical problems intersect clinical decisions, in particular decisions within psychosomatic medicine. In this chapter, we show how an ethical counselling centred on the needs and on the biographies of the patients could ameliorate their decisional process concerning which clinical option should be pursued. And, of course, the ethical counselling approach we propose does not diminish patient autonomy but, actually, increases patient empowerment