How can the medical profession preserve the essential human connection between healer and patient in an era increasingly dominated by technology and pharmacological intervention? Dr. Eric J. Cassell, a clinical director at Cornell Medical School, draws upon his extensive experience as an internist to argue that the art of healing requires a profound understanding of the patient's subjective experience of illness rather than a focus solely on biological disease. He presents a framework that integrates clinical ethics, the psychological dimensions of suffering, and the necessity of empathy in professional practice.

Medical professionals and ethicists frequently cite this work as a foundational text for understanding the humanistic side of clinical practice. Readers often note the thoughtful, reflective nature of the prose, which balances academic rigor with a compassionate approach to patient care.