ABSTRACT
A critique of contemporary medicine has been that evidence-based medicine favours population health, universal trends and commonalities, rather than the uniqueness of a patient's experience of illness and the perceptions of his or her family members. Authentic patient-centred care can be achieved by enhancing prevention and health promotion and the continuing relationship between the patient, the doctor and the patient's family and support. Although the relationship with the patient has always been central to medicine, it may paradoxically be the most neglected area of learning in Foundation Programmes or taken for granted. When considering humanistic and patient-centred health care more deeply, the concept of social justice should be kept at the forefront in terms of individual care, but also as linked to the care of vulnerable, stigmatised or underserved populations in the context of public health.
